Shakira has spoken out about the ongoing tax fraud case that she is now facing in Spain.
In case you did not know, the 45-year-old superstar was accused by Spanish authorities of owing millions in unpaid taxes from 2012 and 2014. Shakira has denied the allegations.
Back in September, it was announced that Shakira would go to court over the accusations.
Now, she has issued her latest response to the ongoing case via legal documents and a statement which was released on social media.
Shakira has filed legal documents stating that she was not a legal resident of Spain during the time that she allegedly did not pay taxes. In order to be an official resident, one must spend at least 183 days in the country. Outlets report that she paid over $10 million in taxes to the US during that time frame.
The hitmaker said that she became an official resident of Spain in 2015 and since then has paid the appropriate taxes owed.
Her legal team also released a statement to outlets:
“Shakira is a taxpayer who has always shown impeccable tax conduct and has never had tax problems in any other jurisdiction. With no solid evidence to support the charges against her, she has been fiercely persecuted in the criminal and media spheres using unacceptable methods to damage her reputation and force her to come to a settlement agreement.”
The statement included a message from Shakira herself. Here is what she said:
“It is unacceptable that in its accusation the tax authorities are not respecting the legal certainty that must be guaranteed to any taxpayer, not my fundamental rights.
In my case they have violated my right to privacy and the presumption of innocence, basic rights of any citizen.”
The statement reiterated that Shakira is willing to go to trial in lieu of a plea deal:
“Shakira wishes to express her absolute confidence in the independence of the Spanish justice system and her firm conviction that, after the trial, her full innocence will prevail.”
