Spanish prosecutors file second set of tax charges against Colombian pop star Shakira

Spanish prosecutors are preparing to try Colombian pop star sensation, Shakira, this November in Barcelona, but have opened a concurrent, second investigation in July, according to European news reports published Tuesday.

In an entirely new set of charges, the Spanish government has alleged the pop singer defrauded the motherland of €6.7m ($7.1m) in 2018, asserting she declined to declare millions in advance payments for her El Dorado World Tour.

There have been conflicting reports as to whether or not the Colombian singer was aware of the new charges.

RTVE, a Spanish based news network reported that the 46-year-old singer has been notified of the second filing of charges, but Reuters reported that Shakira's legal team in Miami was unaware.

Those U.S. based lawyers were reportedly “focused on preparing for the trial for the 2012-14 fiscal years, which will begin on Nov 20,” according to a statement published by Reuters.

The new, second set of Spanish tax charges are based on allegations centering around Shakira’s time in Barcelona when she lived with football star Gerard Pique in 2018.

Spanish prosecutors allege that while she was there, the now Miami resident was required to report her international revenue.

The Barcelona based prosecutors have insisted that Shakira covertly redirected her money to “companies domiciled in countries with low taxation and high opacity.”

Shakira currently faces trial in Barcelona this November to answer for six separate purported tax crime charges, all of which she has pleaded not guilty to.

In that case, the Latin pop singer is being prosecuted for failing to pay €14.5m ($15.3m, £12.6m) in tax between 2012 and 2014.

"I am confident that I have enough proof to support my case and that justice will prevail in my favor," Shakira said during a September interview with the Spanish edition of Elle fashion magazine.

The new charges come just as Shakira is celebrating the Sept. 20 release of her new single, “El Jefe,” with Fuerza Regida, which has garnered heavy attention in Mexico.