Judge rejects Shakira ex's plea to access account

[July 05, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A judge in Geneva has rejected an application from Shakira's ex-boyfriend seeking rights to one of her bank accounts.

Antonio de La Rua claims he should have access to one of Shakira's accounts because it holds most of the assets from their business partnership.

In documents dated June 17 and obtained by The Associated Press, the judge said that Shakira is the sole owner of the account.

De La Rua has worked as one of Shakira's business advisers. He said he and Shakira established an oral agreement to work professionally following their romantic split in 2011.

The judge said that de La Rua does not have enough evidence to prove the two reached a professional agreement and that there are no written agreements.

De La Rua has been waging an international fight against the Colombian singer, saying he shaped the "Shakira brand." He has filed lawsuits in New York and Los Angeles.

De La Rua is the son of former Argentine President Fernando de la Rua. He dated Shakira, whose songs include "Hips Don't Lie," for more than a decade and worked on some of her business deals.

Lawyers for de La Rua's didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment Wednesday.

[Associated Press; By MESFIN FEKADU]

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