Israeli Businessman Sentenced to Nearly Four Years for Massive Tax Fraud
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Avner Aluk, owner of Sagiv Shielding Technologies, was sentenced to 44 months in prison and a NIS 100,000 fine for defrauding the state of NIS 5.75 million through fictitious invoices. The court found Aluk used straw men to mask his control over the scheme. A prior suspended sentence was activated, adding to his prison term. The company received a symbolic NIS 10 fine.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avner Aluk sentenced to 44 months in prison for NIS 5.75 million tax fraud.
- Sagiv Technologies owner used 139 fictitious invoices to defraud the state.
- Aluk used straw men to conceal his sole control over the fraud scheme.
- A prior suspended sentence was activated, increasing Aluk's total prison time.
- Aluk also received a NIS 100,000 fine and a three-year suspended sentence.
- The company Sagiv Technologies was fined a symbolic NIS 10.
Avner Aluk, the owner of "Sagiv Shielding Technologies (2009) Ltd.," has been sentenced to 44 months in prison and a NIS 100,000 fine for severe tax offenses. The Ramla Magistrate's Court found Aluk and his company guilty of unlawfully claiming input tax credits totaling approximately NIS 5.75 million, defrauding the state.
Between 2012 and 2015, Sagiv Technologies received 139 fictitious invoices from five different companies without any genuine transactions. These invoices, which included VAT amounts ranging from NIS 283,955 to NIS 2,249,012, were incorporated into the company's tax reports by Aluk to fraudulently obtain VAT funds. The court determined that Aluk used straw men, including Hillel Talcar, Ori Halperin, and Ido Kless, to mask his sole control over the fraud scheme, with these individuals acting merely as his subordinates.
In sentencing Aluk, the judge highlighted his extensive criminal record, which includes four prior convictions for serious tax offenses for which he previously served 24 months in prison, as well as convictions for forgery. The court also noted Aluk's failure to compensate the public coffers. A previously suspended four-month sentence for a similar offense was activated and added to his current sentence.
The court rejected Aluk's defense arguments, including his claim for leniency based on parity with Hillel Talcar, who received an 11-month sentence. The judge distinguished Talcar's role as subordinate, his lack of prior convictions, his guilty plea, and his significantly lower financial default. Aluk's request for leniency due to the passage of time was also denied, as the lengthy four-year delay in proceedings was attributed to his own numerous requests for postponements.
In addition to the prison sentence and fine, Aluk received a 10-month suspended sentence for three years. The company, Sagiv Technologies, which is no longer active, was given a symbolic fine of NIS 10. The case was handled by the Tax Authority's Central District Legal Unit and investigated by the Customs and VAT Investigations Unit in Tel Aviv.
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