International pop star Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, famously known as Shakira, has reached a settlement with Spanish authorities in her tax fraud case just hours before the scheduled trial for tax evasion was set to begin on Monday.
The lawsuit alleged that Shakira owed over 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. Although she listed the Bahamas as her primary residence during that period, prosecutors claimed she had spent the majority of her time in Spain.
Had Shakira been found guilty in the trial, she could have faced over eight years in prison and fines totaling €24.5 million.
Under the terms of the settlement, Shakira has agreed to pay a €7.3 million ($8 million) fine with a suspended three-year sentence.
The singer, known for hits like “Hips Don’t Lie,” has consistently maintained her innocence since the tax fraud case became public. In a statement to Variety magazine on Monday, Shakira expressed confidence in winning the case but decided to settle for the sake of her children.
In part, her statement read, “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have decided to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her well-being in this fight.”
Shakira emphasized the draining impact of the case on her energy, time, and tranquility, and mentioned the persistent efforts to prove her innocence.
The settlement comes as Shakira seeks to move past the emotional toll of recent years, including a high-profile breakup with long-time partner Gerard Piqué in June 2022. Following the split, she relocated from Spain to Miami in April 2023 with her two sons, Milan and Sasha.