Shakira reaches deal in Spanish tax fraud case

International pop star Shakira reached an agreement with Spanish prosecutors on Monday to settle a tax evasion case worth millions of euros, just before the trial was due to start in Barcelona.

Prosecutors had charged Shakira with six counts of tax fraud, accusing her of paying 14.5 million euros, about $15.8 million, in income taxes. The Associated Press reported Monday that she told the presiding magistrate in court that she had accepted an agreement with prosecutors. The AP reported that under the deal she would receive a three-year suspended sentence and a €7 million fine.

Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, was accused of failing to pay income taxes to the Spanish government between 2012 and 2014. Shakira had repeatedly denied the accusations and said she did not live in Spain during those years.

In an indictment in July, prosecutors said Shakira spent more than half of each year in Spain between 2012 and 2014 and during those years used a previously established “business framework” to hide income and assets.

Prosecutors had asked for a prison sentence of eight years and a fine of more than €23 million.

In a statement on Monday, Shakira said she had always tried to “do the right thing and be a positive example to others.”

“While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favor, I have made the decision to finally resolve this case with the best interests of my children at heart,” she said.