Kiryat Gat Resident Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Credit Fraud
A Kiryat Gat resident was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison for credit card fraud totaling 170,000 shekels and drug trafficking offenses.
A 28-year-old resident of Kiryat Gat, Netanel Zohar, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after being convicted of credit card fraud and drug offenses, including drug trafficking. According to the amended indictment filed at the Ashkelon Magistrate's Court, Zohar obtained details of 19 credit cards belonging to various individuals, transferring them to his personal use to execute dozens of purchases totaling tens of thousands of shekels.
The fraudulent activities took place over a short period during the autumn of 2019. Zohar used the compromised cards to buy mobile devices, lottery scratch cards, food at supermarkets and restaurants, and other goods. In total, he executed 64 fraudulent transactions using the cards, amounting to 170,000 shekels, alongside attempted fraud reaching 150,000 shekels. Alongside the financial crimes, Zohar was also prosecuted for drug offenses committed alongside three other accomplices.
Judge Zvi Forer delivered the sentence, taking into account Zohar's personal background, including the loss of his mother and his expression of remorse. In addition to the 63-month prison term, the court imposed a suspended sentence of 17 months, fines totaling 31,500 shekels, and an 18-month driver's license suspension. The judge emphasized the severe impact of the crimes on individual property rights and orderly commercial activity.
