Israeli model Bar Refaeli convicted of prolonged tax evasion

Supermodel Bar Refaeli – who once dated Hollywood superstar Leonardo Di Caprio – will have to pay a fortune in fines for the offences.

Supermodel Bar Refaeli will serve months of community service and pay a fortune in fines after being convicted of tax offences.

The 35-year-old, who dated Titanic star Leonardo Di Caprio from 2005 to 2011, pleaded guilty in an Israeli court to charges of providing false tax returns while living overseas in a bid to dodge local taxes.

Her mother Tzipi Refaeli was also convicted of a number of charges and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, while the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover girl was ordered to serve nine months of community service.

Refaeli and her mother were also slapped with a $A2.13 million fine on top of millions of back taxes owed to the state.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Israeli model Bar Refaeli dated from 2005 to 2011. Picture: Danny Moloshok/AP

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Both mother and daughter previously pleaded guilty to evading paying taxes on earnings of almost $A14.2 million as part of plea bargain agreements, Page Six reported.

It brings to an end the years-long saga which began in 2015 when Refaeli was first arrested and accused of lying about where she lived during the peak of her modelling career for tax purposes.

Refaeli was dating Di Caprio during some of the period in question, and she claimed she was part of a “family unit” based overseas during that time.

But an Israeli court previously ruled the model’s relationship with the Oscar winner did not constitute a “family unit” and that she was not eligible to claim his US home as her own residence to avoid local taxes.

When she was first arrested, the New York Post reported she was suspected of receiving more than $US257,000 in free benefits, including luxury apartments and cars, that she allegedly never reported.

Refaeli is now married to businessman Adi Ezra and the couple have three children, Liv, Elle and David Ezra.

Israeli model Bar Refaeli wears a face mask as she arrives at court in Tel Aviv, on July 20, 2020. Picture: Oded Balilty/Pool/AFP

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The family is based in Israel, where Refaeli has built a successful career as a television host, actor and entrepreneur.

She co-hosted the Eurovision song contest in 2019, which was based in Tel Aviv in Israel.

However, it’s not the first controversy to hit the model, who was previously criticised for skipping Israel’s mandatory army service.