Israeli Security Firm License Revoked Over Extortion and False Accounting

The Israeli Ministry of Justice's Licensing Committee for Private Investigators and Security Services revoked the license of the security company "Hashomrim BaNegev Security and Maintenance Ltd." on Wednesday. The decision followed an investigation revealing the company's involvement in providing false accounting cover for extortion activities, specifically the collection of protection money. The committee also canceled the license of the company's security organizer.

The committee's decision was based on confidential information and administrative evidence presented by law enforcement agencies, including the Civil Enforcement Unit of the State Attorney's Office, the Southern District Attorney's Office, and the Israel Police. A hearing was held with the company and its owners before the ruling. It was found that the company and one of its owners, who also held a security organizer license, collaborated with another security company, "A.Y. Galim," whose license was recently revoked as well. Together, they facilitated payments to "ra’isim", criminal local bosses, disguised as legitimate security service fees.

In many cases, no actual security services were provided, and where services were offered, they were minimal and irregular. The committee barred the company and its security organizer from applying for license renewal for the next three years. This ruling adds to a series of recent license cancellations of security firms and organizers linked directly or indirectly to extortion offenses.

Separately, the police arrested 11 suspects involved in extorting protection money under the guise of security services, including an arrest in the Yeruham area. The Ministry of Justice emphasized the ongoing crackdown on companies abusing security licenses to cover criminal activities.