The 'payment voucher' affair: The central unit in the Jerusalem District and the Tax Authority arrested three suspects on suspicion of receiving something by fraud, money laundering, and tax offenses amounting to approximately half a billion shekels.
The undercover investigation was conducted for over a year, after suspicions arose regarding the three main suspects that they were operating an international economic crime mechanism, the purpose of which was money laundering, tax evasion, and intentional omission of income - while harming the state treasury.
The case was nicknamed 'payment voucher' in light of the suspects' extensive use of payment vouchers related to real estate, among other offenses they committed.
Throughout the undercover investigation, investigators revealed the main suspects' modus operandi - when, according to suspicion, they operated an extensive network of fictitious companies and associations in Israel and abroad, through which they laundered money for local companies while smuggling money from abroad and introducing it into Israel.
The police and the Tax Authority claim that the method included receiving cash, distributing false invoices, and sophisticated concealment of the funds through bank transfers, real estate voucher payments, and using family members' bank accounts.
As the investigation moved to the open phase on July 14, investigators raided the homes of 16 suspects and arrested several of them for joint questioning by the Jerusalem Police and Income Tax investigations.
A large portion of those arrested are ultra-Orthodox. One of the raids took place about a week ago in the ultra-Orthodox Ganei Ayalon neighborhood in Lod.
During the raid, dozens of properties were seized, which were suspected of being purchased with funds obtained fraudulently or as a result of income evasion.
So far, dozens of people involved have been investigated who are suspected of receiving and using the services of the suspects for the purpose of money laundering, embezzlement of income, and receiving things fraudulently.
In accordance with the needs of the investigation, the detention of the two main suspects - aged 48 and 56, from Kiryat Yearim and Tel Aviv - was extended in court until Thursday.
