Police officers from Lahav 433, together with investigators from the Investigations and Intelligence Division of the National Insurance Institute, detained 7 suspects for questioning on suspicion of defrauding the state, by receiving payments as part of the war grants for evacuees from the north of the country, despite never having lived in the north
Investigators from the National Economic Crime Unit (Yalak) in Lahav 433, in cooperation with the Investigations Division of the National Insurance Institute, have conducted a large-scale undercover investigation over the past few months on suspicion of committing bribery offenses, receiving something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, conspiracy to commit a crime, and other serious economic offenses.
According to the suspicion, several suspects conspired and bribed an employee of the Population and Immigration Authority, in exchange for a false modification of their residential addresses to the north of the country, while creating a false representation that they had been evacuated from settlements that were evacuated on the northern border during the war period. Through this false representation, the suspects acted to illegally receive benefit and assistance funds as part of the grant paid by the National Insurance Institute.
These are serious suspicions, which caused damage to the Treasure to the extent of millions of shekels. This is all the more so given the fact that the acts were committed during a national emergency and a state of war.
The Israel Police in general, and the National Unit for Combating Economic Crime in Lahav 433, will continue to work in cooperation with the National Insurance Institute to expose offenses of this type, to bring all those involved to justice.
The investigation is at its beginning. Depending on the development of the investigation, the suspects will be brought to the Petah Tikva Police Station for an extended detention period.
Michaela Cohen - National Insurance Institute Spokesperson