Haredi Yeshiva Fraud Spanned Years, Involved More Than 40 Yeshivas, Cops Say

Six men were arrested on Sunday when police found more than a thousand fake ID cards at the offices of three nonprofit organizations that operate yeshivot in the Jerusalem area. The suspects allegedly falsified the records in order to receive monthly stipends from the Education Ministry for students who did not exist.

 

Police: Haredi ID fraud spanned years
Following raid on yeshivot offices which revealed that three haredi organizations embezzled millions from government through ID fraud, police reveal that 40 other foundations were in on deal for years
Yair Altman • Ynet

After a raid uncovered that three ultra-Orthodox organizations have embezzled millions from the government, police revealed Monday that 40 other establishments were involved in the case.

Six men were arrested on Sunday when police found more than a thousand fake ID cards at the offices of three nonprofit organizations that operate yeshivot in the Jerusalem area. The suspects allegedly falsified the records in order to receive monthly stipends from the Education Ministry for students who did not exist.

Each of the suspects had a unique role in the forgery, an operation the police said was worthy of a "crime ring."

"The investigation shows that dozens of organizations were founded and transferred fake names to the Education Ministry in order to illegally receive funds," a police official said.

The police began to covertly monitor the illegal activity a few months ago, when members of the Neturei Karta sect found out their names were being used to receive stipends from the State, and informed law enforcement officials.
 
Same photo used in 3 IDs

During a preliminary hearing Monday a police official presented to the judge a photo album from which photos were taken for the fake IDs. One of the photos was featured on no less than three different cards.

The official stated that every fake name that the organizations listed brought in 880 NIS (about $240) a month on average. Since there were more than 40 foundations, each reporting hundreds of fake names, the suspects embezzled hundreds of thousands of NIS a month for each organization, which amounted to tens of millions of NIS a year.
 
"This system has been in place for many years," she said. "During yesterday's raid millions of NIS were found, some in cash, while some went directly to the pockets of the suspects and to other sources."

Following the hearing, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court decided to extend the remand of the arrested men by four days, even though the police requested a 15-day extension to avoid a disruption in the investigation.

Attorney Yair Nehorai, who represents the suspects, responded by saying that since the police decided to release all the details of the case, including the names of the suspects and the way they operated, his clients should be released.

"Every potential suspect knows exactly what he is accused of and who is involved, so we think the police's claim that the suspects should not be released to avoid disrupting the investigation procedure is inappropriate," he said.

[Hat Tip: CS.]

Comments

[jancsipista]

i think its more then 400 rather then 40 harreidi organizations who embezzeld money when all information comes in

[who knows]

Billions are being embezzeled by the Haredim every year. This is the result of "Tora only" approach. As our sages said in the olden times " He who does not teach his son a craft, teaches him to steal". This is the proof, Syrian money laudering ring another proof, Spinka rebbe money laundering ring is another proof and the proofs could go forever....

[effie]

It's systematic and ongoing for decades. And we're suppose to believe the head honchos knew nothing about it? Throw the bums in prison!

[Menachem Mendel lll]

If Ha'shem didn't want these Jewish pieces of shit to lie, cheat, steal and scam he would not have allowed it to happen. Forget about that "in god's image" BS you learned in Hebrew Day School.

Therefore, all charges are to be dropped, they are to be fully compensated and will receive a written apology from the Queen forthwith.

Moshiach Uber Alles!

[A. Nuran]

Pattern of ongoing criminal activity.

*sniff*
*sniff...sniff*

Could that be RICO I smell?

[ah-pee-chorus]

let the pidyon shvuyim and rioting commence forthwith!!!

[ah-pee-chorus]

damn the anti-semites!!

[Adam Neira]

I think various people in the Israeli Police Force have probably known about these rorts for many years. The investigations are a result of a shift in the political climate. Sometimes the arms of the law will sit on various cases until certain pressure points build to a tipping point. A decent nation state provides a safety net for its people, but when this is manipulated for selfish ends the taxpayers suffer.

[Ali]

Can anyone direct me to a list of the accused?

40 Schools out of approximately how many? This sounds significant and well organized. Organized crime. Like the Mafia.

Any lawyers out there? Is this racketeering? Maybe there is a god and he will shut down the 40 schools and jail the administrators. That would be a start.

Anyone have an educated guess about what percentage of Israeli yeshivas 40 schools is?

[Abracadabra]

Get ready for the tzedaka letters asking for handouts for the poor, starving children of Israel, whose fathers do not work and learn Torah all day long, but who used to feed their children with stolen money. Now that their source dried up, they need your tzedakah, quick.

And don't forget those poor kallahs and poor chosons who nebuch can't get married because they can't afford a wedding. They don't work, and their father's source of theft is no longer available, so they need your tzedakah.

And a little extra to pay for their lawyers too...