Shakira Settles $15M Tax Fraud Case For ‘Best Interest’ Of Her Children

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00:00 Shakira is putting her tax fraud dispute behind her once and for all.

00:05 The music superstar settled the years-long case on the first day of trial in Barcelona on November 20th, Access Hollywood confirms.

00:13 Shakira faced six counts of allegedly failing to pay 14.5 million euros, approximately 15.8 million dollars in taxes between 2012 and 2014.

00:24 The singer arrived court in a pink suit and blew a kiss while waving to onlookers on her way inside.

00:30 Spanish authorities had claimed that the singer owed the nation's government taxes on her global income

00:35 because she had allegedly spent the majority of that time living in Spain,

00:39 though her official residence was in the Bahamas, where tax rates are much lower.

00:43 Shakira's legal team denied the allegations.

00:46 According to NBC News, more than 100 witnesses were planned to testify in the coming weeks,

00:51 but the trial closed in just eight minutes. Prosecutors were reportedly seeking an eight-year prison sentence and a fine equal to 26 million dollars.

00:59 Per NBC News, Shakira told the presiding magistrate in the courtroom that she accepted an agreement with prosecutors

01:05 for a suspended three-year sentence and a fine of 7 million euros, or 7.6 million dollars.

01:12 In a statement obtained by Access, Shakira said she has, quote, "always strived to do what's right"

01:17 and set a positive example for others, explaining the personal reasons she ultimately chose to settle the dispute

01:23 despite her original intent to pursue a full trial, saying in part,

01:28 "While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favor,

01:33 I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart

01:38 who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.

01:43 I need to move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love,

01:49 my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career, including my upcoming world tour and my new album,

01:55 both of which I am extremely excited about."

01:58 The Colombian icon went on to acknowledge her admiration for those who have, quote,

02:02 "fought these injustices to the end," but noted that she ultimately decided that victory for her meant getting time back for her kids and career.

02:10 Shakira is mom to sons Sasha and Milan with ex-partner Gerard Pique,

02:14 and just days before she appeared in court, the boys supported her at the Latin Grammy Awards,

02:19 where they made a surprise appearance during her performance of "Acróstico."

02:23 And she later gave them a heartfelt shout-out during her Song of the Year acceptance speech,

02:28 where she revealed that she'd made them a promise to be happy.

02:31 "To my sons, Milan and Sasha, because I promised them I would be happy.

02:40 I promised them that they will have a mom who will laugh with all her might."

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