Pop star Shakira is acquitted in a Spanish tax fraud case

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. World Pop star Shakira is acquitted in a Spanish tax fraud case May 18, 20266:25 AM ET By The Associated Press FILE - Shakira performs during the Global Citizen Festival in New York on Sept. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File hide caption toggle caption Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File MADRID — A Spanish court acquitted Shakira in a tax fraud case, ordering the government to return more than 55 million euros ($64 million) in wrongly imposed fines and interest, a court document seen Monday by The Associated Press said.

The decision follows years of tax troubles in Spain for the Colombian superstar. The ruling relates to a dispute over the 2011 tax year in which Spanish tax authorities did not prove that the singer was a resident of Spain, the Madrid-based court said in its decision.

The Details

For a person to be considered a tax resident in Spain, she must spend more than 183 days in the country. Spanish authorities were only able to prove that Shakira lived in Spain that year for a total of 163 days, the court said.

Sponsor Message Spain's tax authorities have over the past decade or so cracked down on soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for not paying their full due in taxes. Those players were found guilty of tax evasion but avoided prison time thanks to a provision that allows a judge to waive sentences under two years in length for first-time offenders.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.