International pop star Shakira has been acquitted of tax fraud charges in Spain after nearly a decade of legal proceedings. The National High Court cleared her of allegations that she failed to pay proper taxes in 2011.
Court Ruling
According to the court, tax authorities failed to prove that Shakira resided in the country for more than 183 days, as she only stayed for 163 days. Consequently, the government was ordered to return over €55-60 million (approximately $70 million or P4.27 billion) in wrongly imposed fines, including interest.
Shakira's Response
In her statement, Shakira insisted that there was no fraud and that the Tax Agency could not prove any wrongdoing. She noted that she was treated as guilty for nearly ten years and endured a intense campaign to damage her reputation. She dedicated her victory to ordinary citizens who experience abuse from the tax system.
Context
Spain is known for its strict monitoring of high-profile individuals regarding taxes, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The news emerged days after Shakira was announced as one of the halftime performers at the FIFA Men's World Cup final this summer.
