Colombian singer Shakira has failed in her appeal against a criminal trial for suspected tax evasion, a Spanish court said on Thursday.
Shakira sought to prevent a judge from opening a trial in July for failing to pay a total of €14.5 million ($15.5 million) in taxes due in Spain between 2012 and 2014.
The singer - famous for hits like 'Waka Waka' and 'Hips Don't Lie' - denies this.
At issue is where Shakira was liable to pay taxes in those years.
The public prosecutor's office assumes that the artist lived in Spain for more than half of the year in each of the three years, namely for more than 183 days. This would have meant that she would have had to pay tax on her worldwide income in Spain.
Residence in Bahamas
However, Shakira has repeatedly stressed that she did not have her tax residence in Spain but in the Bahamas in the years 2012 to 2014 and only travelled to Spain from time to time.
Shakira is dating Spanish football star Gerard Pique and has two children with the Barcelona professional. According to her own statements, she has only officially lived in Spain since 2015.
