Story highlights
Model Bar Refaeli questioned over alleged tax evasion
Has been ordered not to leave Israel by authorities
Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli has been questioned by authorities over allegations she evaded paying huge sums of tax.
The former girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio was reportedly questioned for 12 hours after allegedly failing to report millions of dollars worth of income to the Israel Tax Authority.
Her mother Zipora is also being investigated in the case.
The 30-year-old model is also facing allegations that she lived in Tel Aviv apartments while the rent contracts were under other members of her family’s names, and that she received a Range Rover and Lexus in return for publicity work – none of which were declared to the tax office.
Refaeli, who is married to Israeli billionaire Adi Ezra, has reportedly long argued with Israeli authorities about her resident status.
The model and her mother refute all the allegations, with their lawyers saying: “We contend that this is a civil problem regarding the topic of who is an Israeli citizen and everything that is associated with this,” in a document from the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court.
The pair must now hand their passports to the police and receive the authorities’ approval to leave the country.
