A report carried by El País noted that the Spanish public prosecutor’s office reportedly proposed that the singer Shakira pay a fine to settle taxes rather than face a jail term, a suggestion tied to avoiding criminal charges. Media coverage indicates that prosecutors floated such a remedy in order to prevent formal prosecution, but Shakira considered the proposal disproportionate and not aligned with her interests. An insider described the singer’s response as a firm refusal to accept the offered settlement, signaling that the case would move forward through the courts. In this scenario, the ministry would proceed with an indictment, and a jail sentence remained a possibility if Shakira were found guilty.
The allegations center on a tax liability of around $15 million connected to the artist’s income between 2012 and 2014. Questions were raised about where Shakira officially resided, with prosecutors arguing that she lived in Spain at the time while her stated residence was the Bahamas. This discrepancy regarding domicile added another layer to the scrutiny surrounding the tax filings and the associated obligations.
Earlier developments in the case saw the court dismissing Shakira’s appeal in the tax evasion matter, a decision that kept the case alive and moving toward potential trial. Throughout the proceedings, various sources have described the legal process as a test of the singer’s financial and residency declarations, while observers note the broader implications for high-profile individuals facing similar inquiries. The unfolding sequence reflects how tax enforcement authorities pursue substantial sums and scrutinize where income is generated and where it is legally anchored for purposes of taxation. The narrative remains ongoing, with the court’s next steps expected to shape the outcome and determine whether penalties, if any, will be imposed in connection with the alleged tax avoidance regime.