Eli Reifman's Former Partner Testifies in Court Amid 200 Million NIS Debt Probe
Margarita Alter, former partner of fugitive entrepreneur Eli Reifman, testified in court after returning from Thailand, detailing threats and fallout from Reifman's estimated 200 million NIS debts.
The legal battle surrounding fugitive Israeli entrepreneur Eli Reifman escalated this month as his former partner, Margarita Alter, returned from Thailand to testify in the Central District Court. Alter did not mince words before Judge Merav Ben-Ari, describing Reifman as "scum" and detailing a harrowing aftermath following his disappearance.
Testimony and Mounting Debts
According to Alter, Reifman left her destitute abroad, forcing her to endure constant harassment and threats at her doorstep after he allegedly defrauded investors and creditors. In 2009, the court issued a bankruptcy order against Reifman, and attorney Eitan Erez was appointed as his bankruptcy trustee. Reifman's total debts to creditors are currently estimated at approximately 200 million NIS.
"He left me destitute and I had to survive and deal with relentless attacks and threats not just by phone, but arriving at my doorstep... I am dealing with so many fronts of things he left behind after cheating everyone," Alter testified in court.
In April 2025, an arrest warrant was issued against Reifman at the request of trustee Eitan Erez, after Reifman failed to deposit 10 million NIS in an initial phase and an additional 5 million NIS within five years, while remaining outside Israel.
Corporate Entanglements
Following the arrest warrant, investors petitioned the Central District Court to appoint a temporary trustee for Altrugo, a company founded in 2020 that provided public corporation establishment services. While Alter is the registered owner, director, and shareholder, investors argue that Reifman was the "living spirit" behind the firm.
Court-appointed trustees, attorney Keren Reichbach Segal and CPA Chen Badrichev, previously stated in an initial report that Altrugo's financial management appeared disadvantageous to investors, noting that "much is hidden compared to what is revealed." Alter's civil examination is scheduled to take place at the trustees' offices next month.
