Israel Fruit and Vegetable Vendor Suspected of Hiding $1.2 Million in Income
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Lior Ezra, a 48-year-old fruit and vegetable vendor from Petah Tikva, is suspected of hiding approximately 4.5 million shekels in income from Israeli tax authorities. Investigators believe business earnings were funneled through a relative's bank account while Ezra received a salary. Ezra was released under restrictive conditions by the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court, and the investigation is ongoing. Tax evasion by fraud carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Lior Ezra, a 48-year-old vendor, is suspected of hiding 4.5 million shekels in income.
- The Tax Authority suspects business earnings were transferred to a relative's account.
- Ezra was released by the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court under restrictive conditions.
- The investigation is ongoing, and no indictment has been filed yet.
- Tax evasion by fraud carries a potential sentence of up to seven years.
- The case highlights past suspicions against other vendors for similar offenses.
Lior Ezra, a 48-year-old resident of Petah Tikva who has managed a fruit and vegetable business called "Ramat Gan Market" since 2018, is suspected by the Tax Authority's Investigations Unit of concealing approximately 4.5 million shekels (about $1.2 million) in income from tax authorities. The business was established by a relative of Ezra, who transferred it to him in 2018. Information received by the Tax Authority's intelligence unit indicated that the relative was receiving significantly higher amounts from credit card companies than what was reported to tax authorities, a discrepancy of about 4.5 million shekels. Ezra is responsible for submitting the business's tax reports, but no payments from credit card companies were found in his bank account. This suggests that all credit card receipts from the business were being transferred to the relative's account.
An investigation, which became public on October 14, involved searches, evidence seizure, and the questioning of Ezra and others. According to Chief Lior Barel, the business's funds were transferred to the relative's account, and Ezra received only a monthly salary from the relative, thereby hiding business income from tax authorities and harming public funds. The investigation is also examining potential violations of the law restricting cash transactions, which limits cash payments per transaction to 6,000 shekels. Ezra is suspected of felony offenses under Section 220 of the Income Tax Ordinance.
Ezra was brought before the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court and released under restrictive conditions, including a personal guarantee of 250,000 shekels, a third-party guarantee of 150,000 shekels, and a deposit of 20,000 shekels. He must report for investigation when required and is prohibited from contacting anyone related to the investigation for 60 days, except his attorney, Haya Tzion. The court allowed contact with the relative, who is reportedly hospitalized. No indictment has been filed yet, and the investigation is ongoing. Violations of tax evasion by fraud can lead to up to seven years in prison.
Mentioned
