A merchant accused of smuggling jewelry and luxury watches worth millions of shekels was extradited from Greece to Israel and sentenced to 16 months in prison for money laundering.
Following an extradition process requested by the International Department of the State Attorney's Office, an importer and dealer in luxury jewelry and watches was extradited from Greece to Israel yesterday, charged with serious offenses of smuggling and money laundering.
This morning (Wednesday) the merchant appeared before the Lod District Court for a retrial.
As part of a plea agreement, the merchant pleaded guilty to money laundering offenses only, in accordance with an amended indictment, and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, probation, and a fine of 300,000 NIS, in addition to the confiscation of assets worth hundreds of thousands of NIS.
According to the indictment filed by the National Legal Unit for Customs Cases at the Tax Authority – through Attorney Adili Dagan, Deputy Director of the Unit, and Attorney Hagar Feinberg Tuval – the merchant initiated and planned the systematic smuggling, under aggravating circumstances, of luxury watches and jewelry into Israel, with a total value of approximately 6 million NIS.
According to the indictment, the goods were smuggled through Ben Gurion Airport using a courier, without being reported to the customs authorities and without paying import tax as required by law. The indictment also states that the merchant sold watches and jewelry to various customers in Israel, and these sales were not reported to the tax authorities, and no income tax or VAT was paid for them.
After the start of his trial, the merchant stopped appearing for hearings, and about three years ago he left Israel and did not return. As a result, the proceedings against him were suspended and an arrest warrant was issued in his case. The proceedings in the case of his two accomplices to the crimes were concluded and their sentences were passed. About a year ago, the merchant was arrested in Greece on the basis of a "red notice" issued by Israel, and later a request for his extradition was submitted by Attorney Yanai Gurni from the International Department of the State Attorney's Office, in order to renew the proceedings in his case.
Last November, the Supreme Court in Greece ruled that the trader could be extradited to Israel for money laundering offenses only, and last March, the Deputy Minister of Justice in Greece ordered his extradition to Israel. The extradition was completed yesterday, and today the proceedings against him resumed in the Lod District Court.
The extradition was carried out by the Operational Coordination Department of the Intelligence and Air Force Division of the Israel Police, in cooperation with Greek authorities. The investigation was conducted by the Beersheba Customs and VAT Investigations and the Diamond Unit of the Tax Authority.
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