Investigators from the Fraud and Economic Crime Division in the Jerusalem District's central unit arrested Yosef Haim Plebani, a 39-year-old Haredi, suspected of mortgage fraud and receiving fraudulently inflated loans from Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank totaling 16 million shekels for apartment buyers.
The arrest was made after a complaint was received in the Jerusalem district in recent weeks from Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, regarding a private mortgage advisor who, according to suspicion, submitted false documents to the bank for his clients, in order to obtain a mortgage to purchase apartments.
Upon receipt of the complaint by the police, an investigation was opened in the fraud department of the Jerusalem Metropolitan Police.
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In recent weeks, fraud investigators have been working to collect evidence and findings, as well as collect testimony from mortgage borrowers.
On Tuesday of this week, the investigation moved to the open phase, and Jerusalem Police Detectives arrested the suspect at his home in Jerusalem.
The police are investigating suspicions that the suspect fraudulently obtained mortgages for his clients based on a false valuation, which was significantly greater than the value of the properties they actually purchased.
The acts were committed by submitting false documents to various banks - including: documents relating to the value of the property and the borrowers' income.
In return, the suspect received a fee for his services from the clients.
The investigation revealed that there were 30 different cases of loan applicants whose documents were forged. These involved dozens of transactions carried out at banks in the Jerusalem area for properties purchased throughout the country, and involving mortgages worth millions of shekels.
After his arrest, the suspect was taken for questioning by the police and his detention was extended until next Monday.
The investigation continues.
