Colombian pop star Shakira was acquitted Monday by Spain’s National High Court in a long-running tax fraud case tied to her 2011 income.
The court overturned a €55 million (about $64 million) fine imposed by tax authorities and ordered the Spanish government to return over €60 million (roughly $70 million) to the singer, including interest and costs.
Prosecutors had failed to prove that Shakira spent the required 183 days in Spain in 2011 to qualify as a tax resident, with evidence showing she was present for only around 163 days.
In a strongly worded statement, the 49-year-old artist criticised the tax agency’s handling of her case.
“There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true,” Shakira said.
She added: “After more than eight years of enduring brutal public targeting, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately impacted my health and my family’s well-being, the National High Court has finally set the record straight.”
Shakira described the proceedings as part of a decade-long effort that presumed guilt and forced defendants to prove their innocence. “This victory is dedicated to” ordinary citizens “who are abused and crushed every day by a system” like this, she said.
Her lawyer, José Luis Prada, hailed the ruling as evidence of an independent judiciary. “It comforts us to see that, when faced with unacceptable administrative stances, we can rely on a justice system that truly works and ensures the rule of law,” he stated.
The decision concerns only the 2011 tax year and does not affect previous settlements Shakira reached with Spanish authorities for later years. The singer is currently on her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour.
