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The former Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover
model, now a popular TV personality in Israel, had pleaded
guilty to tax offences under a plea bargain that also included
her mother and agent, Tzipi Refaeli.
Israel tax authorities accused the two of evading paying taxes
on income of about $7.2 million.
Security for their court appearance on Sunday was tight, with
barricades in the lobby marking a path to an elevator that took
the pair to the courtroom.
"We love you Bar," one woman shouted as the model and her
mother, both wearing coronavirus masks, walked past cameras and
reporters, without making any comment.
Defence attorneys had argued that Bar Refaeli, a papparazzi
favourite during a romantic relationship with Hollywood actor
Leonardo DiCaprio, did not have to declare to Israeli tax
authorities worldwide income between 2009 and 2012.
Refaeli, now 35 and a mother of three and married to an Israeli
businessman, had contended she was living overseas at the time
and exempt from any Israeli tax bills.
But prosecutors said she had been living in luxury homes in
Israel leased by her mother and other relatives to hide her
residency status.
A Courts Administration statement said Bar was assigned
provisionally to perform community service, five days a week, at
a centre near Tel Aviv for people with physical disabilities.
Her 65-year-old mother was due to begin her jail term on Sept.
21.
They were fined 2.5 million shekels ($722,460) each, on top of
taxes owed. The Haaretz newspaper said they would likely end up
paying authorities about 25 million shekels ($7.2 million),
including interest charges.
(Writing by Jeffrey Heller; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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