Counterfeiting case: police recommend prosecuting

The investigation regarding local elections in Beit Shemesh ended and evidence infrastructure was formulated against eight suspects in the case.

Lahav 433 Unit recently completed the investigation in the case concerning alleged violations of the law to local authorities in local elections for mayor of Beit Shemesh and the Council.

At the conclusion of the investigations, the evidence infrastructure was formulated against eight suspects of offenses under the Elections Act of Local Authorities - Elections."

The investigation began on election day, given the information received, after which searches were made and various exhibits were caught, including costumes and identity cards. The investigation was directed at first by the Jerusalem district police and several days later was transferred to Lahav 433.

During the investigation, many messages were collected, dozens of different persons involved were questioned under caution, some were arrested for several days.

Police said that the "investigation material shows that in the city of Beit Shemesh on election day, many votes were made by impostors using their identity cards which are not theirs, and allegedly more votes in this method were planned.

"Voting was systematically organized, with extensive advance planning, even before the election date. IDs were recruited from the community which is prevented from voting for ideological reasons. The criminal organization's goal was to increase the chances of election of the list of "Koach" to the city council and of mayor Moshe Abutbul.

"The network was carried out by a built-in mechanism, personnel and operational measures and guided by political activists and their associates. The use of ID cards made using disguises to camouflage the identity of imposters."

During the investigation an administrative complaint with the District Court was filed by the Attorney General, through the Jerusalem District Attorney, based primarily on the material that has been gathered concerning the cancellation of mayoral elections in Beit Shemesh. Following the petition, the District Court cancelled the election for mayor and council and ordered repeat elections. The Supreme Court rejected the application for leave to appeal filed by the Koach List.

The investigation was recently transferred to the care of the Jerusalem District Attorney that accompanied the investigation to formulate a decision in the case.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!