Supermodel Bar Refaeli, who married biliionaire Adi Ezra in September, and her mother, Tzipi, are suspected of tax evasion in Israel after they allegedly failed to report millions of dollars in income earned overseas, said the country's tax authority on Thursday.
Refaeli failed to report luxury items such as a Range Rover and a Lexus she received for free from car companies as compensation for posting pictures of herself posing with the cars, according to the tax authority. Refaeli, Leonardo DiCaprio's ex-girlfriend, also failed to pay taxes on her luxury apartment in Tel Aviv, according to The Associated Press.
The former Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model is under the scanner of tax investigators for allegedly hiding the fact that she is a resident of Israel, which has certain benefits, including exemption from declaring income earned abroad. Refaeli allegedly tried to conceal her residency by residing in apartments registered in the name of her mother and brother, according to BBC News.
Refaeli and Tzipi were detained temporarily on Thursday and were later released on a bail of $193,000. They were interrogated for 12 hours by tax investigators on Wednesday following an inquiry that has been ongoing for months, the tax authority said.
Refaeli and her mother are not allowed to leave the county for six months without posting a bail bond and obtaining special permission from officials.
Refaeli's attorney Giora Aderet has denied the allegations made by the tax authority. "There is no drama. In the end, this is just a civil dispute. No-one cheated anyone else. It will all clear up soon," said Aderet.
