Man Charged with Fraud for Multiple Marriages and Benefits Claims

Southern District prosecutors have indicted a 50-year-old Bedouin man from the Negev, identified only as R., on charges of aggravated fraud and bigamy. According to the indictment filed in the Beersheba Magistrate's Court, R. was married to his first wife for about 30 years, with whom he has 12 children, before divorcing.

Approximately 20 years ago, the indictment alleges, R. married a second woman, with whom he has nine children. This second marriage was not reported to the authorities, and she was legally recognized as a "common-law spouse." Five years ago, R. allegedly married a third woman, with whom he has one child, and again declared her as a common-law spouse to the National Insurance Institute (NII).

Sources familiar with the case stated that R. fraudulently received hundreds of thousands of shekels from the NII by falsely declaring his last two partners as common-law spouses rather than wives. The NII, with assistance from the Southern District police's central unit, launched an investigation. Investigators obtained documents from a Sharia court, reportedly indicating R. had entered into three marriages, which is illegal polygamy in Israel.

R.'s trial is expected to begin soon, with prosecutors seeking a prison sentence. This case follows a broader enforcement operation called "National Justice" conducted a month prior, involving the police, the NII, and the Population and Immigration Authority. That operation led to the disqualification of benefits for 211 residents suspected of misrepresenting their life circumstances to receive social security. Authorities estimate these efforts will save the state tens of millions of shekels through the recovery of funds and prevention of future fraud. The NII emphasized that eligibility for benefits is determined by law and residency, and false declarations will result in disqualification, recovery of funds, and legal proceedings.