National Insurance Institute demands return of benefits obtained through fraud

Three brothers from Tira are accused of fraudulently receiving funds from the National Insurance Institute after claiming they were in Sderot during the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. According to the indictment, they were actually at their home in Tira at that time.

According to the charges, two of the brothers managed to receive a total of about 150,000 shekels after being recognized as victims of hostilities and receiving grants and compensation. The third brother attempted to obtain recognition and payments, but his request was halted after a review by the National Insurance Institute raised suspicions of false reporting.

In their submitted claims, the brothers allegedly described traumatic experiences from the attack, including claims that they suffered from anxiety after witnessing terrorists, gunfire, and casualties. Following these declarations, one of them was approved for a sum of approximately 78,000 shekels, while another brother received 13,138 shekels, along with additional grants totaling about 43,000 shekels.

The National Insurance Institute launched an investigation, which concluded that the three were not in Sderot at all during the attack. Following these findings, a complaint was filed with the Israel Police fraud unit, and the brothers were interrogated under caution.

As reported by Mako, citing a source familiar with the details, the three brothers are required to return the funds they received illegally. Concurrently, the Central District Attorney's Office filed an indictment against them in the Magistrate's Court in Kfar Saba, charging them with obtaining benefits by deception and attempted obtaining by deception. Their trial is expected to begin shortly.