Bankrupt Real Estate Developer Accused of Faking Business Launch
Oren Kobi, a real estate developer facing criminal charges and bankruptcy, is allegedly attempting to launch a new venture called Landmark, described as a global platform for land investment, real estate, and technology. This comes despite a court order prohibiting him from engaging in real estate activities and a pending indictment from last year for violating that order. Kobi is currently under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
A fake article, impersonating the business newspaper Globes, was recently published on an X (formerly Twitter) account under Kobi's name. The fabricated article, styled as a Globes cover story, promoted Kobi's new venture, quoting him as saying, "We are aiming for billions in sales annually, and later for an international IPO." The fake piece also claimed, "According to Kobi, this is not just another land marketing company but a broad international move connecting real estate, technology, global management systems, and an international partner community."
Globes contacted Kobi for a response to the fake article, after which it was removed from the X account. Kobi faces four indictments, with two filed in 2020. He is accused of fraud, theft, money laundering exceeding NIS 20 million, and defrauding creditors of NIS 70 million related to his activities with the Adama group, which sold agricultural land and subsequently entered insolvency proceedings.
An investigation into Kobi began in late 2024 after Globes revealed his involvement in selling agricultural land through a new company, violating the court order. An indictment was filed in May 2025. Kobi was arrested for eight months and released to house arrest in January. Despite a probation service recommendation against his release due to his manipulative nature, a judge ordered his release to house arrest with electronic monitoring, citing the potential for adequate supervision.
Kobi stated that the criminal case against him is weakening and he rejects the charges, believing the evidence will reveal the truth. He added that he is no longer conducting business in Israel and is focusing on international ventures, asserting he will not allow partial publications to define him.
