MADRID, July 20 (Reuters) – Colombian singer Shakira, dubbed the Queen of Latin pop, is to be investigated for alleged fraud on income and wealth tax in 2018, a Spanish court said on Thursday.
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer, who has sold millions of records worldwide, already faces legal proceedings in Spain and is expected to stand trial late in 2023 in another case relating to over 14.5 million euros ($14.31 million) in back taxes owed between 2012 and 2014.
In that case, the prosecutor is seeking an up to eight-year prison term for the 46-year-old star, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak.
The court in the northeastern town of Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona, did not provide further details in its statement on Thursday and the prosecutor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shakira’s legal team said she had not received any notification and found out about the new case through the press.
“The singer’s legal team will not make any comment until the notification reaches her through the formal and legally established channels,” they said in an statement.
Shakira is now based in Miami and she will have to be notified personally at her new address, they added.
“As she has already stated on numerous occasions, Shakira asserts that she has always acted in accordance with the law and under the advice of the best tax experts. She is now focused on her artistic life in Miami and is calm and confident that her tax affairs will be resolved favourably,” they added.
Shakira was together with former FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique for 11 years and the pair have two children.
Reporting by Emma Pinedo, editing by Inti Landauro; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Alexandra Hudson
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