A Spanish judge has wrapped up a pre-trial investigation of allegations by prosecutors that Colombian singer Shakira failed to pay up to 14.5 million euros ($17.2 million) in tax on income earned between 2012 and 2014, according to Reuters.
A court document released on Thursday said Judge Marco Jesus has seen “sufficient evidence” for the singer to face trial for tax fraud.
“The documents (...) annexed to the lawsuit are sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to continue with the proceedings,” the judge said in the court document.
According to Reuters, Shakira’s representatives in Spain said in an emailed statement on Thursday that the court document was an “expected step in the process” and that the singer’s legal team “remains confident and fully cooperative with the judiciary and will not comment further”.
While prosecutors say Shakira was living in the region of Catalonia during those years, her representatives argue she did not live in Spain until 2015 and has met all of her tax obligations.