National Insurance Demands Funds Back as Tiberias Football Club Faces Probe
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
An agreement is reportedly being reached for players of Hapoel Ironi Tiberias to repay unemployment benefits received while under contract, avoiding criminal charges. This is part of a larger investigation into alleged financial misconduct, including dual contracts and hidden salaries totaling millions of shekels over four seasons. The probe involves multiple law enforcement and tax authorities. Several individuals, including the club's owner, have been arrested in connection with the case.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Players of Hapoel Ironi Tiberias may avoid criminal charges by repaying unemployment benefits.
- The club is under investigation for alleged dual contracts and hidden salaries totaling tens of millions of shekels.
- The probe, named "Mirror Image," involves the National Insurance Institute, Lahav 433, and the Tax Authority.
- Club owner Arie Kalmanzon and others have been arrested as part of the investigation.
- The settlement aims to resolve the unemployment benefit issue without criminal prosecution.
An agreement is reportedly being finalized that would allow players investigated for financial misconduct at Hapoel Ironi Tiberias to avoid criminal proceedings. The players admitted to taking unpaid leave during football breaks while still under contract with the club, subsequently receiving unemployment benefits. Under the proposed settlement, they are expected to return these funds, along with interest and penalties, to the National Insurance Institute.
The arrangement aims to resolve the matter without criminal prosecution, partly due to the amounts involved. The investigation, dubbed "Mirror Image," is being conducted by the National Insurance's investigation and intelligence department, in cooperation with the economic unit of Lahav 433 and the Diamond Unit of the Tax Authority.
This probe into unemployment benefits is part of a larger investigation into allegations of a dual contract system and hidden player salaries over four seasons, totaling tens of millions of shekels. It is suspected that contracts submitted for budget control did not reflect the club's full financial obligations, with additional agreements and payments made separately.
Suspicions in the case include fraud, false registration, forgery, money laundering, and tax and National Insurance offenses. Players, both past and present, have been questioned under caution regarding alleged double contracts and undeclared income. The club's finance official has also been questioned and released under restrictive conditions.
The public investigation began after months of covert activity, leading to the arrest of club owner Arie Kalmanzon, his former partner Miki Beitan, former coach Eliran Hodda, and finance official Yael Bar. Their detentions were extended by the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court.
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