A Spanish court announced on Thursday that it has shelved the investigation into alleged tax fraud by Colombian pop star Shakira, bringing an end to her legal troubles in Spain, where she once resided.
The investigation, initiated by prosecutors in July, accused Shakira of employing a network of companies, some located in tax havens, to evade paying 6.6 million euros (approximately Ksh.931.5 million) in taxes in 2018.
In response, Shakira settled the debt by paying 6.6 million euros a month after the case was opened.
Prosecutors requested the dismissal of the criminal case on Wednesday, citing “a lack of evidence,” and the court concurred the following day.
Despite acknowledging “irregularities” in Shakira’s 2018 tax return, the court determined these were insufficient to constitute a criminal offence and found no “intent to defraud” the tax authorities.
Pau Molins, Shakira’s defence lawyer, praised the decision, stating it ended the “smear campaign waged by the tax authorities” against Shakira and confirmed that she had not engaged in any fraudulent behavior.
Molins further remarked that Shakira was “completely satisfied” with the court’s recognition of her innocence regarding criminal fraud.
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This decision leaves Shakira with only one unresolved administrative case related to her income from 2011. Her legal team asserts that during that year, she spent “a maximum of 70 days in Spain, not even half the minimum required to be considered a tax resident.”
