Shakira paid ANOTHER £5.7million to a Spanish court investigating her over unpaid taxes, it has emerged – days after agreeing to pay a £6.4million fine in a separate case

Shakira has handed over more than £5.5million to a court investigating her over another alleged tax fraud, it has emerged.

The Colombian superstar has paid £5.7million to a Spanish court investigating her over unpaid taxes, her agent said, just days after reaching a deal to avoid a trial in a new tax case.

Spanish prosecutors opened a second case against the 46-year-old singer in July, accusing her of using a network of companies, some based in tax havens, to defraud Spanish tax authorities of around £5.7 million in 2018. defraud, including interest. and adjustments.

Shakira paid the court in August, the body representing her told AFP, confirming a report in the daily El Periodico.

The £5.7 million payment implies neither guilt nor innocence of the singer in the case, but is “a further demonstration of her willingness to repay her possible debts to the Spanish tax authorities”, the newspaper said.

The Colombian artist will be further investigated for suspected tax breaches in 2018.

This criminal investigation was launched ahead of her guilty plea early last week in a separate case into six counts of tax fraud totaling £12.7 million committed in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

But if the ongoing criminal investigation leads to a retrial, her settlement of her tax debt will likely lead to a milder eventual sentence, according to respected Catalan newspaper El Periodico.

Officials confirmed in July that Shakira was under investigation for suspected tax violations in 2018.

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court of Catalonia said at the time: ‘Court of Instruction Number 2 in Esplugues de Llobregat has opened proceedings following a complaint filed by prosecutors against singer Shakira for two suspected tax crimes relating to income tax and wealth tax for the Spanish tax year 2018 .’

The singer-songwriter has not yet been questioned by a judge. When the quiz takes place, it will likely take place via video link, sparing her a forced return to Barcelona from her new base in Miami.

After admitting in a Barcelona court last Monday that she committed tax fraud from 2012 to 2014, Shakira said she did it for her career and for her two sons Milan and Sasha.

In a lengthy statement issued through her PR representatives, she said: “I have to choose my battles and the most important thing for me right now is that my children live a full life and that I focus on what really matters: seeing them grow and spend money. spending time with them, without subjecting them to the fear of seeing their mother in court and the damage that causes.

‘They asked me to do this themselves and I made this decision for them.

“They have been through difficult times and I want them to finally see me happy and be able to look to the future together.”

Taking a swipe at Spain’s tax system, she added: ‘I think the system in Spain needs to be overhauled for the benefit of its citizens.

“And I will continue to be an ally in making sure this happens.”

Shakira leaves the court in Barcelona, ​​Spain, on November 20, 2023

“There are many people who cannot afford to pay good lawyers or even reach an out-of-court settlement and who have seen their lives collapse before their eyes because of discrepancies with the Spanish Ministry of Finance.”

Insisting on her fight to clear her name had wasted her an enormous amount of time and resources. She added, “I felt ready to face a trial and defend my innocence.

‘My lawyers were convinced we had a winning case.

‘However, I have made this decision after many years of struggle.

“I had two options: continue until the end, mortgage my happiness and that of my children, stop making songs and albums and tour, not be able to enjoy my career and the things I love, or make a pact and closing and leaving this chapter in my life behind, I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not a victory if the price you have to pay is that they steal so many years of your life.”

The mother-of-two admitted her wrongdoing during a brief public hearing after taking the stand in a striking pink trouser suit.

Spanish prosecutors announced in a pre-trial filing that they are seeking a prison sentence of eight years and two months for Shakira and a fine of almost £21 million if judges find her guilty of six counts of tax fraud.

The trial, which was to last until December 20 and consist of twelve sessions, was canceled as a result of the settlement.

Judge Manuel del Amo confirmed in open court after hearing the singer’s guilty plea that, in light of the agreement, he imposed a three-year prison sentence – six months for each of the six counts of tax fraud to which she had admitted .

He then added that her prison sentence would be replaced by a fine, meaning she would not have to go to prison.

Shakira was fined £6.4 million for the six tax fraud crimes she admitted, less than a third of the amount prosecutors demanded before the trial.

She had already paid back the tax officials who accused her of evasion – which, with interest, amounted to almost £15 million.

She was also ordered to pay a fine totaling £378,000 to avoid jail time.

Shakira returned to Miami alone late last week, leaving her two children with ex Pique for a few days before returning to their new home in Florida to go back to school.