Contractors Suspected of Stealing Millions from IDF in Gaza
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Twenty-one suspects, including contractors and IDF NCOs, were arrested in Israel for allegedly defrauding the Ministry of Defense of millions of shekels during work in Gaza. The suspects are accused of stealing fuel, submitting fake invoices for uncompleted work, and bribing military personnel. The investigation, led by Lahav 433 and the Military Police, revealed that contractors allegedly inflated their work claims and exploited the wartime chaos. Several suspects had their detentions extended as the investigation continues.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 21 suspects arrested in Israel for multi-million shekel fraud involving Gaza contractors and IDF NCOs.
- Suspects allegedly stole fuel and submitted fake invoices for work not performed in Gaza.
- Ran Rachmani, owner of Rachmani contracting, is a key suspect in the economic fraud scheme.
- Military NCOs are suspected of facilitating the fraud and accepting bribes from contractors.
- The alleged fraud occurred during the 'Swords of Iron' war, exploiting wartime chaos in Gaza.
Twenty-one suspects have been arrested nationwide in a large-scale operation as part of an investigation into a multi-million shekel economic fraud scheme involving contractors working for the Ministry of Defense in the Gaza Strip during the current war. The suspects, including owners of contracting companies and military non-commissioned officers, allegedly exploited the chaos in Gaza to steal fuel and submit fictitious invoices for work not performed or not fully completed.
Among the key suspects is Ran Rachmani, 74, from Afula, owner of Rachmani contracting company, which works with the Ministry of Defense. He is suspected of supplying heavy equipment through subcontractor Sahaf HaDrom while being aware of undelivered fuel. His arrest was part of an investigation by the National Economic Enforcement Unit, Lahav 433. Rachmani's lawyer denied the accusations, and his detention was extended by three days.
Another suspect, Elisha Yifrach, had his detention extended after being arrested for allegedly receiving money for undelivered fuel and issuing fake invoices. Mohammed Ammar, owner of Sahaf HaDrom, and Yosef Abu Ammar, 61, from Lakia, a manager at the company that won a Ministry of Defense tender for work in Gaza, are also central suspects. Police allege Yosef Abu Ammar defrauded state institutions by not reporting fuel taken from the IDF and suspect he bribed NCOs in Gaza.
The NCOs involved have also been arrested and are being investigated by the Military Police. Zidan Abu Ammar, the tax advisor for Sahaf HaDrom, was also arrested, with NIS 600,000 and gold seized from his home. Investigators believe the contractors inflated the scope of their work to receive more funds.
Police are attributing charges including money laundering, false reporting, preparing false accounting records, obtaining property by fraud under aggravated circumstances, and corporate breach of trust. A source involved in the investigation stated, "The suspects exploited the great chaos in Gaza to steal millions of shekels."
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