Spanish court formally sends Shakira to trial for tax fraud

A Spanish court on Tuesday formally ordered Colombian superstar Shakira to stand trial on accusations that she failed to pay 14.5 million euros ($14.31 million) in income taxes, a court document released on Tuesday showed.
The 'Hips Don't Lie' singer, 45, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, rejected in July a deal to settle the case, which meant she would have to stand trial in a case that could see her sent to prison for eight years.
The Esplugues de Llobregat court on Tuesday confirmed the trial will go ahead on a date still to be announced.
The prosecutor is seeking an eight-year prison term for the singer, who is accused of failing to pay taxes between 2012 and 2014, a period in which she said she was leading a "nomadic life" because of her work.
"The order to send Shakira to trial is just another step in any proceedings of this kind. The situation has not changed and everything continues as normal. Shakira's legal defence will do its job by presenting its written arguments at the appropriate time," a statement from her lawyers said.
Shakira vowed last week to fight what she claimed were "false" accusations by Spanish authorities and added that she had already paid what the Spanish tax office said she owed before they filed a lawsuit.
Source: reuters.com
Trending News
Central Regional Minister orders rehabilitation of damaged boreholes in Gomoa Central
09:14Prosecutions under ORAL initiative too slow -GFL boss worries
02:57Concerned Small-Scale Miners call for aggressive sustainable mining to tackle galamsey
10:48Energy Minister calls for stronger collaboration and investment in Africa’s energy sector
03:28Asanko Gold confirms fatality after unrest at Mpatoam concession
06:39Big Push project: President Mahama cuts sod for Dodowa-Afienya-Dawhenya road in GA/R today
08:44GFL boss reveals Abronye facing “spiritual and physical attacks”
02:51Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK announces upcoming Ghanacard registration in London
12:00Gov't relocates excavators from Tema port to military installations
09:38ORAL is working, just be patient with the Attorney-General – Martin Kpebu
08:26