Top model Bar Refaeli sentenced to nine months of community service over tax evasion

Top model Bar Refaeli was sentenced to nine months of community service by an Israeli court on Sunday over tax evasion charges, her mother was also sentenced to 16 months in prison in the same case, reported media outlet ABC News.

The 35-year-old model and her mother were convicted in July over offences of tax evasion on income nearing $10 million.

According to the plea bargain accepted by the court, Bar Refaeli and her mother were also ordered to pay a fine of $1.5 million along with the taxes owed to the country.

Bar’s mother Zipi Refaeli will begin serving her prison sentence from next week, reported ABC news.

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The case against Refaeli centers around her residence in the country during years when she travelled around the world as part of high-profile modelling campaigns.

Israeli tax law states that residency is determined primarily by days spent by a person in the country. Citing this loophole as her reason, Refaeli claimed that since she had not stayed most of her day’s in the country she was not under any obligation to declare her income.

Prosecutors, however, rejected Refaeli’s claim and charged her with providing incorrect tax information. Refaeli’s indictment states that she had earned around some $7.2 million between the years 2009-2012 while claiming that she resided overseas to avoid paying Israeli taxes on her income.

As per previous appeals, an Israeli court had ruled Refaeli’s relationship with Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t qualify as a ‘family unit’ and hence she couldn’t claim Caprio’s residency to avoid paying the taxes she owed.

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Refaeli’s mother, Zipi Refaeli, who was her agent, was charged on three counts of failure to report income, avoiding to pay taxes and aiding tax evasion.