Eyal Golan suspected of tax evasion
King of Mizrahi pop music joins singers Kobi, Moshe Peretz in list of celebrity musicians questioned on suspicion of tax offenses. Golan's spokesperson: Investigation initiated by singer's record company
After almost 10 hours of questioning Golan emerged smiling from the Tax Authority offices and said: "They treated me well. It was a long day."
The day began with a surprise search at Golan's house. It is suspected he did not report private events in which he performed. His manager and another associate were also questioned.
Golan stated that the investigation was initiated by his own people.
Golan leaving Tax Authority offices. 'I was treated well.' (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
According to Golan's representatives, the investigation was part of an ongoing process that started a few months ago. "Golan's record company initiated the proceedings with the Tax Authority, and it has been cooperating with us since the investigation begun six months ago.
"We hope it will be concluded soon, and wish to stress that we are the ones who approached the Tax Authority in order to examine the bookkeeping."
Last August, singer Moshe Peretz was investigated by the Tax Authority on suspicion of tax evasion. Peretz was questioned along with his manager, Amnon Zandany, but was not arrested.
He was released home that evening without restrictions. The singer said at the time that it was "a routine VAT bookkeeping procedure."
Five months earlier, singer Kobi Peretz was questioned at the Tax Authority offices in Jerusalem on suspicion of tax evasion of millions of shekels. He was released on bail, and investigators claimed that Peretz lied about not owning his own safe deposit box, which was later uncovered at the bank, with large sums of money stashed inside it.
Last June, the Jerusalem District Court rejected an appeal filed by Kobi Peretz over the decision to give him back money and documents that were seized during a search in the singer's house and in a safe deposit box that was registered on his and his mother's name at the bank. Peretz claimed that a technical error in the court's decision to conduct the search should have annulled the search warrant.
Avital Lahav and Omri Efraim contributed to this report
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