Israeli Court Approves Seizure of Funds in Protection Racket Case Without Conviction

The Beersheba District Court has approved the seizure of 165,000 shekels from funds confiscated during a police investigation into alleged protection racket activities, marking a significant legal precedent. The funds were seized from the company A.G. Galim Security, Guarding, and Cleaning Ltd. and an individual named Makram Abu Zekika. The state had initially sought to confiscate a total of 330,000 shekels, comprising 300,000 from the company and 30,000 from Abu Zekika.

As part of a settlement agreement approved by Judge Geula Levin, the company and Abu Zekika acknowledged sufficient factual and legal grounds for the confiscation request. Consequently, half of the seized amount, totaling 165,000 shekels, was forfeited to the state, while the remaining half will be returned to the respondents. The court granted the settlement agreement the force of a judgment.

According to the State Prosecutor's Office, this civil proceeding is intended to supplement criminal enforcement tools in the economic fight against protection rackets. A statement from the Civil Division of the State Prosecutor's Office highlighted that this approach aims to undermine the economic viability of such activities and associated funds, extending the fight beyond criminal avenues, particularly in cases where criminal prosecution might not be feasible.

In related developments, the Ministry of Justice's committee for licensing private investigators and guarding services had previously decided to revoke the licenses of A.G. Galim Security, Guarding, and Maintenance Ltd. and its guarding organizer several months prior. An appeal has been filed against this decision.