MADRID (AP) – Colombian pop singer Shakira has chosen to appear in court rather than accept a deal offered by Spanish prosecutors to settle charges she brought to the Spanish government of 14.5 million euros ($15). million) in taxes, her public relations team said Wednesday.
Shakira, 45, “relies on her innocence and chooses to leave the matter in the hands of the law,” PR agency Llorente y Cuenca said in a statement.
Spanish prosecutors charged the singer in 2018 for failing to pay 14.5 million euros in tax on income earned between 2012 and 2014. She faces a fine and jail time if found guilty of tax evasion.
No immediate details were available about the deal the prosecutors offered. No date has been set for the trial.
Shakira’s PR agency said she has deposited the amount she is supposed to pay with the Spanish tax authorities and has no outstanding tax debts.
The case depends on where she lived in 2012-14. Prosecutors allege it was mainly in Spain, although Shakira’s official residence was in the Bahamas.
Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has two children with Barcelona football star Gerard Piqué. The couple used to live together in Barcelona, but recently ended their 11-year relationship.