Global popstar Shakira will face a tax-fraud trial in Spain.
As per NPR news, a Spanish judge approved a trial for the Colombian pop singer on charges of tax fraud. She was accused in 2018 of failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014.
Read more: Shakira breaks silence on separation with Gerard Pique after three months
Prosecutors are seeking an eight-year prison sentence and a hefty fine if she is found guilty of tax evasion. The 45-year-old singer repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and rejected a deal with authorities to avoid going to trial.
Shakira has been linked to Spain since she started dating soccer player Gerard Pique. The couple, who have two children, used to live together in Barcelona but recently ended their 11-year relationship.
Read also: Shakira breaks silence on separation with Gerard Pique after three months
Spain has cracked down on soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the past decade for not paying their full due in taxes. They were found guilty of evasion but both avoided prison time thanks to a provision that allows a judge to waive sentences under two years in length for first-time offenders.
