A resident of the settlement of Ahismach in his 50s was arrested this evening (Monday) on suspicion of committing fraud and fraud in the amount of over NIS 100 million.
The Fraud Unit of the Central District started an investigation about a week ago, upon receiving complaints from the farmers of the settlement, located near Lod, on suspicion of a huge embezzlement of the funds of a cooperative society in the settlement, amounting to over one hundred million NIS.
The unit’s investigators collected evidence and findings, at the end of which, as mentioned earlier, they arrested the local resident for questioning this evening, on suspicion of committing fraudulent and fraudulent offenses, including offenses against the Money Laundering Prohibition Law, the Financial Services Supervision Law, receiving something fraudulently under aggravating circumstances, and more.
In addition, the fraud unit investigators searched and seized documents relevant to the investigation at the association’s offices, including invoices and checks worth tens of thousands of NIS.
The police stated that in accordance with the needs of the investigation, they intend to bring the suspect tomorrow for a hearing at the Rishon Lezion Peace Court with a request to extend his detention.
The affair was revealed a week ago on News 12, after the investigation was opened.
Dozens of families live in the Ahismach settlement, with each family allocating ten funds in the cooperative settlement association, in order to receive a large return after a while. These are decades of investment that have accumulated to a high sum of over 100 million shekels.
Following the surprising disappearance of the funds, many farmers unknowingly fell into many debts – and the residents suspected that this was an embezzlement of millions.
When the affair broke out, dozens of farmers gathered around the moshav’s secretariat, and many of them demanded answers. “Where is our money? Where did he go? We don’t know anything,” said one of the farmers. “Everyone works hard… farmers, dairy farmers, and one morning they discover that there is nothing left. where is our money Where are all the checks?”
“We demand answers”, added the farmer. “The whole seat here is crying, all our money is gone. People worked for years and today they are impoverished. we are going crazy This is an investigation that should shock the country. Where is Lahav 433? They stole us in broad daylight.”
Following the disappearance of the funds, dozens filed complaints at the Lod Police Station and the Rehovot Police Station. “We are waiting for the police to lift their gloves and do something, people work all their lives in a difficult field and are left with nothing.”
At the same time, representatives from one of the largest banks in Israel arrived at Ahisachem, where the funds from the farmers’ fund were deposited. The bank’s representatives delivered urgent letters to the members of the session, including an immediate demand for the repayment of guarantees estimated at millions of shekels.
“One clear day, a message arrives from the bank that checks have bounced,” said another farmer. “We don’t know anything, we collapse and don’t know why. We have no day and no night, in one day people lost everything. One of the suppliers informed us that the association’s checks were returned.”
Amor, a suspect in the case, a resident of the settlement, was arrested this evening.