A Spanish court approved Shakira’s trial on tax fraud charges on Tuesday.
Colombian singer Shakira was accused of failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million) in taxes in 2018. If Shakira is found guilty in this tax evasion case, prosecutors seek an 8-year sentence and a huge fine.
The trial date has yet to be confirmed.
The pop star has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and rejected a plea deal with authorities to avoid the trial.
Prosecutors claim Shakira spent more than half of her time in Spain from 2012 to 2014 and that she should have paid taxes there. Shakira moved to Spain in 2011 after her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique went public.
In an interview with Elle, she said, “These are false accusations.” She also stated that I paid everything they claimed I owed before filing a lawsuit.
Over the last decade, Spain has cracked down on football stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for failing to pay their full tax dues.
They were both found guilty of evasion, but they avoided prison time due to a provision allowing a judge to waive sentences of less than two years for first-time offenders.
