Popstar Shakira may face 8-Year jail term for tax fraud in Spain

Barcelona: Global music superstar Shakira could be sentenced to more than eight years in prison after she rejected a tax evasion plea deal, Spanish prosecutors said on Friday. Prosecutors in Barcelona will also seek nearly 24 million euros ($24.5 million) in fines from the 45-year-old "Hips Don't Lie" singer, who they allege defrauded the Spanish tax office of 14.5 million euros in earnings between 2012 and 2014.

Shakira, who has sold more than 60 million albums, rejected a plea deal on Wednesday, saying in a statement through her lawyers that she was "absolutely certain of her innocence" and decided to leave the case to court confident that she could prove her innocence.

A formal referral to court has not yet been announced and a trial date has not been set.

Lawyers for Shakira, one of the biggest names in the global music industry, say a deal is possible pending the start of any trial.

Shakira moved to Spain in 2011 after her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique became public, but maintained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015. The couple, who have two children, announced their separation in June.

On Wednesday, the star slammed the "complete violation of her rights" and "abusive methods" carried out by the prosecutor's office, AFP reported.

She claimed prosecutors were "insisting on claiming money earned during my international tours and the show 'The Voice'" on which she was a judge in the United States when she was "not yet resident in Spain".

Between 2013 and 2014, Shakira was on a singing competition show. Her lawyers say she earned most of her money from international tours until 2014 and only moved to Spain full-time in 2015 and fulfilled all tax obligations.

She claims that she has "no debt to the Treasury for many years" and that she has paid 17.2 million euros to Spanish tax authorities.

An appeal from the singer to drop the charges was rejected in May by a Barcelona court.