Bar Refaeli questioned for tax evasion

GettyBar RefaeliBar Refaeli, one of the most well-known supermodels in the world, was arrested Wednesday on charges of tax evasion in Israel, Agence France-Presse has reported.

Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli has been questioned by authorities over allegations she evaded paying huge sums of tax.

Israeli tax officials are alleging Thursday that supermodel Bar Refaeli and her mother, Tzipi, failed to report tens of millions of shekels in income earned for work done overseas.

The report states Refaeli denies allegations of wrongdoing, and must request permission from authorities if she wants to leave the country. Later, Refaeli moved to the nearby W Towers where she lived for three years. the contract for that apartment was signed by her mother in the same manner, even though it was the model who lived in the apartment.

Refaeli was questioned for 12 hours and was summoned for questioning again on Thursday, but she was not under arrest.

Media reports said the authorities were also looking into whether tax should have been paid on “celebrity discounts” and perks such as cars that the model had received in Israel. She lived at the YOO Towers in a rented apartment, but the contract was signed by her brother in order to make it appear she has no ties to Israel.

She’s also charged with accepting free accomodations in the form of luxury apartments and cars not registered in her name, according to Israel’s Tax Authority.

There was no immediate comment from Refaeli’s lawyers.

In September, Refaeli married businessman Adi Ezra, whose family owns the Israeli food importing company Neto ME Holdings.

This is not the first time the 30-year-old swimsuit model, who in the past dated actor Leonardo DiCaprio, allegedly found loopholes in Israeli law to her benefit.