Shakira Blows Kiss To Fans Before Settling $15M Tax Fraud Case For ‘Best Interest’ Of Her Children

Shakira is putting her tax fraud dispute behind her once and for all. The music superstar settled the years-long case on the first day of trial in Barcelona on Nov. 20, Access Hollywood confirms. Shakira faced six counts of allegedly failing to pay 14.5 million euros, approximately $15.8 million, in taxes between 2012 and 2014. The singer arrived to court in a pink suit and blew a kiss while waving to onlookers on her way inside. Spanish authorities had claimed that the singer owed the nation’s government taxes on her global income because she had allegedly spent the majority of that time living in Spain though her official residence was in the Bahamas, where tax rates are much lower. Shakira’s legal team denied the allegations. According to NBC News, more than 100 witnesses were planned to testify in the coming weeks but the trial closed in just eight minutes. Prosecutors were reportedly seeking an eight-year prison sentence and a fine equal to $26 million. Per NBC News, Shakira told the presiding magistrate in the courtroom that she accepted an agreement with prosecutors for a suspended three-year sentence and a fine of 7 million euros, or $7.6 million. In a statement obtained by Access, Shakira said she had “always strived to do what’s right and set a positive example for others,” explaining that she chose to settle the dispute due to “the best interest” of her children.