The Court of Barcelona will judge from next November 20 to Shakiraaccused of defrauding 14.5 million euros between the years 2012 and 2014in a trial that will last for twelve sessions and in which a list of about 200 witnesses is initially planned.
According to legal sources, the sixth section of the Court of Barcelona has issued a resolution in which it sets the days of November 20, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 and November 4, 5, 11, 12, 13 and 14. December for the trial of the Colombian singer, dates that are subject to possible last-minute schedule changes.
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The trial of the artist could also be shortened, for whom the Prosecutor’s Office requests eight years and two months in prison for four crimes against the public Treasury, if at the last minute an agreement is reached with the accusations – the Public Ministry and the State Attorney’s Office – to accept a sentence reduction in exchange for acknowledging the fraud.
Many witnesses for the parties
The reason why twelve sessions have been scheduled for the trial is the large number of witnesses proposed by the parties: a hundred from the State Attorney’s Office, about 30 from the Prosecutor’s Office and 60 from the defense.
The president of the chamber, José Manuel del Amo, has asked the parties if it would be possible for them to reduce the number of witnesses proposed, which the prosecution and defense are willing to study in order to expedite the trial.
Del Amo has also proposed that Shakira, who has resided in Miami since the beginning of this month after her break with Gerard Piquéattend your trial only in the session in which your statement is scheduled and in the last day of the oral hearing, in which the defendant has the right to deliver a final argument.
In fact, it is the same magistrate that last October allowed the footballer Neymar absent from the trial sessions for alleged irregularities in his transfer to Barça, with the exception of the day of his statement and the last session of the hearing, so that he could return to France, where he plays for Paris Saint Germain.
The Prosecutor’s Office asks for 8 years and 2 months in prison
The Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office asks for eight years and two months in prison and a fine of 23.8 million for the singer, whom it accuses of six crimes against the Public Treasury for defrauding 14.5 million euros between 2012 and 2014. pretending that he did not reside in Spain.
On the contrary, her defense alleges that she did not establish her residence in Spain until 2014 and emphasizes that, since 2011, the singer has paid more than 104 million euros in taxes worldwide.
the interpreter of Torture last June he rejected an offer from the Prosecutor’s Office to reach an agreement that would reduce the sentences and avoid trial, which does not prevent his defense from continuing to negotiate a pact with the accusations in the coming months, which should be formalized shortly trial before the Court of Barcelona.