- Spain's high court has acquitted Colombian pop star Shakira of tax fraud charges, ordering the Treasury to reimburse her over €60m in fines, interest, and legal fees.
- Shakira was accused of failing to pay €14.5m in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014, with prosecutors alleging she spent more than half of that period in Spain, despite her official residence being in the Bahamas.
- The court ruled that Spanish authorities failed to prove Shakira spent over 183 days in Spain in 2011, which is the legal requirement for tax residency, making the fines unlawful.
- The Grammy winner had previously settled a separate dispute in 2023 by paying a €7m fine to avoid trial, stating it was for her personal well-being, though she maintained her innocence.
- Shakira condemned the Treasury for the "brutal public targeting" and "orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation" during the eight-year legal battle, expressing hope that this ruling sets a precedent for other taxpayers.
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