Shakira Is "Confident in Her Innocence" As Tax Court Case Heads to Trial
The Latin singer is reportedly facing up to eight years in jail for alleged unpaid taxes.
Shakira is headed to trial as her court case on alleged tax evasion continues.
The Colombian pop star is accused of failing to pay taxes to Spain from 2012 to 2014, a period in which she claims she did not live in the country. The star has rejected a settlement offer from Spanish prosecutors and opted to go to trial instead, though a date has not yet been set.
The prosecutors are reportedly seeking an eight-year sentence for the singer if she is convicted for alleged tax evasion of 14.5 million euros ($15 million), per Reuters.
Following initial reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, a representative for Shakira told People that the star is "confident in her innocence."
"Shakira has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWaterhouse Coopers, a prestigious and globally recognized tax firm," reads the statement.
It continues, "Unfortunately, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case. Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process."
Last May, a judge dismissed the singer's appeal in the case, ruling that the trial could move forward. Though the star previously claimed that she spent the majority of the years in question as a resident of the Bahamas, the court determined that she was "a habitual resident in Spain," and that there was not enough evidence to show she lived elsewhere, per the Associated Press.
The development comes a month after the pop star and her longtime boyfriend, soccer player Gerard Piqué, announced that they were separating after 11 years of dating.
"We regret to confirm that we are separating," the stars—who share two sons, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7—said in a joint statement. "We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our children, who are our maximum priority. Thank you in advance for your understanding and respect."
This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US