Top Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli is being investigated for tax evasion, it was cleared for publication Thursday after initial reports into the case were leaked yesterday.
Refaeli, considered the most active working model in Israel, arrived for questioning Wednesday at the Tax Authority’s offices in Tel Aviv. The interrogation concluded at around midnight after 12 hours of grilling.
It was reported Wednesday the Tax Authority had summoned the model on suspicion of various tax offenses related to her income in the past few years.
According to the Tax Authority, Refaeli tried to cover up the fact she was a resident of Israel by renting an apartment owned by her family.
The 30-year-old model and her mother are also suspected of receiving discounts on luxury goods subject to income tax, without reporting the gifts to tax authorities.
At a Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court hearing early this afternoon, the Tax Authority agreed to release Refaeli on bail under restrictive conditions.
Both Refaeli and her mother will have to sign a personal guarantee of 500,000 shekels as will one of their spouses as a third party guarantor. Each will also have to provide a cash deposit or bank guarantee in the amount of 250,000 shekels.
Refaeli and her mother will also be barred from leaving the country and must hand over their passports.
The Tax Authority also agreed that the famous model would not have to be present at court during hearings and could instead be represented by her attorney Ruth Livak