Israeli Supermodel Bar Refaeli Sentenced For Tax Evasion; Mother To Be Jailed For 16 Months

An Israeli court in Tel Aviv sentenced supermodel Bar Refaeli and her mother for tax evasion on earnings from her illustrious international career.

The 35-year-old supermodel has been sentenced to nine months of community service while her mother has been sentenced to 16 months in prison, Associated Press first reported. Refaeli, who is considered to be a national icon in Israel, and her mother Tzipi Refaeli were accused of evading taxes on income of approximately $10 million.

Apart from all the taxes owed to the state, the former Sports Illustrated cover girl and Tzipi have to pay a fine of a whopping $1.5 million as the court accepted a plea bargain by Refaeli. Meanwhile, her mother will be starting her prison sentence next week.

The supermodel will be commencing her community service at a facility in Tel Aviv that takes care of people with severe physical and mental disabilities. The former Victoria’s Secret Angel’s community service will begin on Sept. 21.

The verdict has finally ended a long-running case in which the supermodel was first questioned and arrested in the year 2015. At the time, it was reported that apart from evading taxes from 2009-2012, she was also charged with trying to hide the fact that she was a resident of Israel by living in luxury apartments that were registered in her brother and mother’s names.

Refaeli’s attorney’s had argued that the moel did not need to pay taxes in Israel on her income between 2009-2012 because she was living in the U.S. during that period. Refaeli was in a relationship with the Academy Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio at the time.

However, the prosecutors rejected the claim and charged her for providing fallacious tax information.

This is not the first time that Refaeli has stirred a controversy with her actions. In 2004, she faked her marriage with a family friend that allowed her to skip two years in the Israeli military. But the pair divorced soon and the supermodel started dating the “Revenant” star.

Refaeli started her professional modeling career at the age of 15. Soon after, an Israeli fashion awards ceremony named her “Model of the Year” in 2000. Since then, the renowned model has appeared in publications like Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, GQ, Allure, Marie Claire, Maxim, Esquire, and many more during her stint as a model.

On the other hand, famous brands like Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Andrew Marc, Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Accessorize, Reebok, Arrow, Passionata have roped in Refaeli to promote their products globally.

She also has a distinction of being the highest paid model of Israel, according to Forbes.