The Central District Fraud Unit is delving into a sophisticated and coordinated scheme allegedly masterminded by dozens of former soccer players. These athletes, who claimed bankruptcy, are suspected of attempting to defraud the National Insurance Institute out of millions of shekels.
As reported by Israeli police, the National Insurance Institute's Investigation Division has been quietly gathering intelligence over several months, uncovering what they believe to be a widespread fraud operation involving 36 soccer players from the Hapoel Kalansuwa team. The investigation, now in full swing, was set in motion after a trove of evidence was handed over to the Central District Fraud Unit.
The allegations are serious: the team, managed by the Al-Ahli Kalansuwa Football Association, purportedly declared bankruptcy and filed claims totaling around 5 million shekels on behalf of its players and staff. However, suspicions arose that these individuals were being paid in cash, off the books, and that no employment records were submitted to the National Insurance Institute. This elaborate ruse was allegedly designed to illicitly siphon funds from the government.
The covert investigation revealed a litany of potential crimes, including fraud, forgery, use of forged documents, obtaining benefits through deceit, and submitting false claims to the National Insurance Institute.
As the investigation transitioned from covert to overt earlier this week, players and management personnel were summoned for questioning, marking a significant turn in the probe.
This case, with its blend of sports and high-stakes fraud, underscores the complexity and audacity of modern financial crimes, as well as the diligent efforts of investigative bodies to uncover and halt such schemes.
