Israeli top model Bar Refeali was convicted on Monday of four counts of tax crimes that ended the ongoing tax evasion case against her and her family in Tel Aviv.
The 35-year-old beauty was accompanied by her father, Raffi, mother, Zipi, and a team of lawyers when she entered the Tel Aviv court wearing a white mask, white blouse, and jeans.
While inside, Refaeli and her mother confessed to the crimes of evading paying income taxes of close to $ 10 million.
Israeli top model Bar Refaeli, center, wearing a face mask arrives in court together with her father, Raffi, left, and lawyers, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday, July 20, 2020. Refaeli signed a negotiating agreement with authorities to resolve a long-standing tax evasion case against her and her family. (AP Photo / Oded Balilty, Pool)
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Refaeli accepted a plea agreement last month, and under the terms of the deal, the popular TV presenter and presenter is to complete nine months of community service, while her mother will be sent to prison for 16 months. The two are also ordered to pay a $ 1.5 million fine in addition to millions of back taxes owed to the state.
The lengthy case, based on the celebrity model’s worldwide income and the family’s attempts to minimize her ties to Israel, damaged her well-crafted public image as the country’s informal ambassador.
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Refeali’s image is ubiquitous on highway billboards across the country. Last year, it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv.
Israeli top model Bar Refaeli, center, with a face mask arrives at a court together with lawyers, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday July 20, 2020. (AP Photo / Oded Balilty, Pool)
The heart of the case revolves around Refaeli’s residence earlier this decade when she traveled the world in high-profile modeling campaigns, appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and had a long relationship. romantic with actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Israeli tax law determines residency primarily on whether the person spent most of the calendar year in the country. Refaeli claimed that she did not have, and therefore did not have to declare her worldwide income in certain years.
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But prosecutors rejected her claim and accused her of providing incorrect tax information. For example, Refaeli’s indictment said she earned about $ 7.2 million between 2009-2012 while claiming to reside abroad to avoid paying income tax.
In previous appeals, an Israeli court ruled that Refaeli’s relationship with DiCaprio, 45, did not qualify as a “family unit” and, therefore, could not claim his US residence to avoid paying all the taxes he owed.
Refaeli will serve nine months of community service while her mother, Zipi, will be sent to prison for 16 months. Under the terms of the settlement, the two are also ordered to pay a $ 1.5 million fine in addition to millions of back taxes owed to the state. (Isa Foltin / Getty Images photo for Mazda)
Refaeli’s attorneys said the plea agreement showed that he had not intentionally evaded tax payments. Refaeli’s mother, who also acted as her agent, was accused of failing to report income, avoiding paying taxes, and helping someone else to evade paying taxes.
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The indictment says he signed leases for his daughter under the names of other family members to blur Refaeli’s royal residence status and refrained from declaring his own income as his daughter’s agent.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
