Shakira has reached an out-of-court settlement in her tax fraud case that was due to begin today (November 20), meaning she avoids the risk of going to prison.
If you don’t know, Spanish authorities accused the “She Wolf” superstar, 46, of owing millions in unpaid taxes between 2012 and 2014, which she had repeatedly denied. Specifically, prosecutors claim she failed to pay €14.5 million ($15.4 million) in taxes.
Now, Shakira has reached an agreement in which she will be given a three-year suspended sentence. She is also required to pay a fine equal to $7.6 million, NBC News reports.
With this agreement, Shakira has also issued an extensive statement.
Keep reading to know more…
“While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my attorneys were confident would have ruled in my favor, I made the decision to ultimately resolve this matter in the best interests of my children who do not want to see their children. “Mom sacrifices her personal well-being in this fight,” Shakira said, referring to her children Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7, with her ex Gerard Piqué.
Her statement continued: “I need to get over the stress and emotional toll of the last few years and focus on the things I love: my children and all the opportunities coming in my career, including my upcoming world tour and my new album. They both excite me very much. “I greatly admire those who have fought against these injustices until the end, but for me, today, winning is recovering time for my children and my career.”
“Throughout my career, I have always strived to do the right thing and set a positive example for others,” he added.
He said Spanish authorities “launched a case against me as they have done against many professional athletes and other high-profile people, draining the energy, time and peace of mind of those people for years.”
Shakira previously revealed why she fought tax fraud charges for so long instead of settling earlier.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn