Israeli Pharmacist and Accomplice Charged in Drug Prescription Forgery Ring

A resident of Kadima-Tzoran and a pharmacist from the Galilee have been indicted for allegedly operating a network that forged over 100 prescriptions to obtain thousands of narcotic medications and dangerous drugs. The indictment, filed at the Central District Court in Lod, claims the drugs were distributed to the public, posing risks of respiratory arrest, liver damage, and death without medical supervision. David Attar, 74, from Kadima-Tzoran, is accused of obtaining fake prescription forms, IDs, and 18 forged doctor's stamps. He allegedly used these to create 117 fraudulent prescriptions, some in the names of unsuspecting individuals, including his wife and other family members, all without their knowledge.

Attar meticulously kept three ledgers to track the names used, drug withdrawals, and substances obtained, to avoid detection. He allegedly visited the "Club Pharm" pharmacy in Beit Yanai dozens of times over approximately six months. Jamil Suaed, 36, the responsible pharmacist at the pharmacy, is accused of knowingly dispensing dangerous drugs in commercial quantities based on these fake prescriptions, violating his professional duties by failing to verify the prescriptions or demand identification.

The forged prescriptions contained significant errors, including misspellings of drug names and medical specializations, names of retired or non-existent doctors, identical handwriting for different doctors, and even a prescription signed by someone identified as a "doctor" who turned out to be a physiotherapist.

Attar agreed to pay the official price for the medications and an additional cash sum for each dangerous drug dispensed, creating a false appearance of legitimate distribution. Through this method, Suaed, along with another pharmacist, allegedly supplied Attar with large quantities of narcotics and addictive medications, including 690 fentanyl patches, 1,560 Percocet tablets, and 3,030 Ritalin tablets, among others. Suaed allegedly pocketed approximately NIS 58,000 in cash from Attar for these dispensations.

Attar then sold these medications to third parties for public distribution, concealing the illicit cash earnings in his home. He is accused of money laundering totaling at least NIS 335,500 in cash and foreign currency. The indictment charges both men with conspiracy to commit a crime, using a forged document, obtaining by fraud under aggravated circumstances, and trafficking dangerous drugs. Attar also faces charges of forgery and money laundering, while Suaed is charged with dispensing prescription drugs unlawfully. The prosecution has requested the court detain both men until the legal proceedings conclude, citing the high public danger posed by the distributed drugs and the severe breach of public trust in a licensed pharmacist.