Dolina owners jailed

The owners of the Sydney-based Dolina fashion group have been jailed for a maximum term of eight-and-a-half years after being convicted of tax evasion.
Ida Ronen, 72, and her two sons Nitzan, 47, and Izhar, 46, failed to declare 90 per cent of the cash takings from the family women's apparel business between 1991 and 2001 - amounting to between $15 million and $17 million.
Ida received a non-parole period of four-and-a-half years, while her two sons were jailed for a minimum of five-and-a-half years for their part in the conspiracy.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald earlier this month, earnings from each of the Ronen's companies - On Fovo, Ronen Young Fashions, Dolina Enterprises and Donlina Fashion Group - were skimmed and deposited into Israeli and other foreign bank accounts over the 10-year period.
The court heard the family may have continued to defraud the tax office had they not been required to declare point-of-sale record keeping, following the introduction of the GST in July 2000.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Whealy acknowledged the trio were well regarded in the Jewish community, were of prior good character, had no prior criminal record and are highly unlikely to reoffend.
However he did say that even though the scheme was "uncomplicated" that there was "considerable deception" involved in the crime.
The Ronan's have come to a settlement with the Commissioner of Taxation which includes an agreement to pay approximately $7,180,508, most of which is yet unpaid.