According to suspicion: Lawyers, doctors and senior players in the Premier League allegedly committed fraud against the state by issuing fictitious disability benefits over the years to the extent of tens of millions of shekels
Following an investigation by the Investigations Division and in cooperation with the National Insurance Institute's internal audit, suspects were arrested this morning in an alleged fraud of illegally taking benefits
This morning, Wednesday 21.5.25, National Insurance investigators, together with representatives from the Israel Police, raided the homes of dozens of suspects, including: lawyers, doctors and other farmers, which included searches of the homes.
Over the past year and a half, the National Insurance Institute's Investigations Division has been conducting a covert investigation against dozens of people involved in a case in which lawyers are suspected of representing dozens of soccer players from the Premier League and other leagues in work injury claims, while the players are transferring fictitious addresses in coordination with an external doctor who determined high disability percentages, while in reality the players who reported loss of ability to work continued to play for their teams as normal.
The investigation began following intelligence information that reached the National Insurance Institute, in parallel with an inspection conducted by the Internal Audit Division, about suspicious activities that were routinely reviewed to ensure that the rules and citizens' privacy were being maintained. The investigations revealed that the doctor allegedly coordinated with the lawyers on committee dates and forged documents in order to determine fictitious disability percentages and fraudulently receive benefits of thousands of shekels each month for each player.
This is the most serious fraud case ever uncovered in Israeli sports, involving senior soccer players in Israel, and legionnaires over the years. In addition, a National Insurance employee was arrested and suspended from work immediately upon learning of the details until the investigation is completed.
As part of the searches, hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash were seized from the suspects' homes, luxury vehicles belonging to those involved were confiscated, and organized binders containing the names of the teams, medical documents, and more were found.
At this time, all of the suspects are being brought to the police station for further investigation by National Insurance investigators and in accordance with the information accumulated by the National Insurance Institute over the past few months, and will be brought to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court for an extension of their detention.
In addition, soccer players from all of the Premier League teams have been invited for further investigations that will continue in the coming weeks.
National Insurance: "Benefits should be given to those who are eligible and to those who need assistance. The fact that people are capable of defrauding and harming the weak in society is unacceptable. The National Insurance Investigations Division will continue to ensure that those who defraud will be brought to justice, return the funds to the public and face criminal prosecution. As stated, after a lengthy investigation by the National Insurance, the investigation was transferred to the police and the process will continue with greater intensity in the coming weeks."