Every once in a while, celebrities decide not to follow the rules in some way or another. It normally seems shocking to us when they don’t follow the law. But they are flawed people just like we are and sometimes do things they shouldn’t.
On a few occasions, I’ve seen celebrities who decide to not pay their taxes for some reason. This was a big deal back in the early 2000s when Wesley Snipes was arrested for tax evasion after not paying taxes for about 6 years.
Well, now there is another. The famous pop singer, Shakira.
If prosecutors in Spain have their way, the famous pop singer Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, could spend as much as eight years and two months behind bars.
According to a report by the Associated Press, on Friday, Spanish prosecutors asked a court in Spain to order the pop star to face the lengthy prison sentence if she is found guilty of alleged tax fraud in a trial that is expected to take place soon.
The 45-year-old pop icon was indicted on six charges early last month; however, she elected to go to trial rather than accept a settlement deal that had been offered to her.
According to the report, between the years of 2012 and 2014, Shakira allegedly failed to pay the Spanish government an amount of taxes that is roughly equivalent to fifteen million dollars.
In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, the prosecutor’s office is demanding that the singer of “Hips Don’t Lie” pay a fine that is roughly equivalent to $24 million.
In a statement that was made public on Friday, Shakira’s publicists said that the singer “has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer.”
This week, Shakira’s public relations team claimed that the mother of two had deposited the money that she owed to the government, in addition to millions of dollars more in interest.
Sources:
Daily Wire