Shakira and her fans have spent the last week rejoicing over her recent legal victory: Following an eight-year battle with Spain’s treasury over tax fraud allegations, Shakira was not only acquitted, but also awarded a hefty judgment sum. Since then, her followers have been having a field day, sharing hilarious memes that celebrate the star cashing in — proof of mujeres que facturan.
To recap, Spain’s treasury accused Shakira of tax evasion in the country from 2011 and attempted to show that Shakira lived in Spain long enough that year to be considered a tax resident. Yesterday, Spain’s high court found that she had lived in Spain for 163 days in 2011, short of the 183 days that prosecutors tried to prove. Shakira was acquitted of tax fraud and she was also awarded €60 million (about $64 million) for an overturned fine by Spain’s treasury.
“After more than eight years of enduring…
CLICK HERE to read the FULL Shakira's Tax Fraud Acquittal Inspires Fan Memes – Rolling Stone article.
THE BHI TRUST PONZI SCHEME (SOUTH AFRICA)
Date: Ongoing updates through February 2026 Perpetrator: Craig Warriner (Principal), with alleged co-conspirators
Case Description: The BHI Trust scandal remains one of South Africa’s most devastating financial crimes, involving the loss of between R1.9 billion and R3 billion. Craig Warriner, the “genius trader” behind the trust, turned himself in during late 2023, but the legal and recovery battles reached a fever pitch in 2025 and 2026. Warriner operated the trust as a textbook Ponzi scheme, utilizing “Old Boy” networks and high-profile brokers to lure in pensioners and high-net-worth individuals with promises of 20% annual returns.
In early 2025, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) faced heavy criticism for “provisionally withdrawing” charges against alleged co-conspirators Michael Haldane and Sona Pillay. However, civil recovery efforts by joint trustees have continued into 2026, aiming to claw back hundreds of millions in “fictitious profits” from early investors to redistribute to those who lost everything. The case is a masterclass in the failure of fiduciary duty; the FSCA eventually banned several advisors for up to 30 years for peddling the unlicensed scheme despite clear red flags, such as the lack of a website, the absence of regulated financial reports, and a fee structure that was triple the industry average.
Link to Original: Moneyweb – BHI Trust Scandal Deep Dive