Prosecutors in Spain are asking a court to sentence Shakira to eight years and two months in prison if she is convicted of alleged tax fraud in her upcoming trial, which is expected after the pop superstar recently rejected a settlement deal.
In December 2018, Spanish prosecutors charged Shakira with tax evasion, saying that she allegedly avoided paying $15.5 million in taxes in Spain by claiming that she lived in the Bahamas between 2012 to 2014.
Shakira’s team says that the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer “fully trusts her innocence” and that the case is “a total violation of her rights, since she has always shown impeccable conduct as a person and a taxpayer.” They added that “there has been no pending debt with the Treasury.”
Along with the eight-year sentence, prosecutors are also asking for Shakira to pay up to $24 million in fines. According to the Associated Press, the indictment includes six charges against Shakira. A trial date has not been set.
While the charges against Shakira are serious, plenty of people took to social media to make a few jokes while still having her back. Some commended her for not bending to prosecutors, especially since they are Spanish. “Shakira said the colonizer country won’t get a cent outta me and I respect that,” one Twitter user posted.
Another user tweeted out a video of an escape plan they had in mind if Shakira ended up getting tossed behind bars.
One thought if they were able to make it inside the prison, they could distract the guards while Shakira made a run for it.
A few thought prosecutors were going after the wrong person.
Here’s to hoping Shakira can get all her finances in order, so she can return to the stage and recording studio and continue making music.
