An indictment was handed down in the Jerusalem district against a matzeivah business owner masquerading as an agent of a chevra kadisha and defrauding the tzibur out of millions of shekels.
The indictment was filed on Wednesday 16 Cheshvan in the Jerusalem District Court against Y.D.A. (name on file), the owner of a matzeivah business alleging he defrauded people out of almost NIS 5.6 million. He also faces charges of money laundering.
According to the indictment, from 2005-2014 the defendant sold cemetery plots to people who were seeking to buy them in advance. The defendant used a different name and present a certificate to prove to gullible clients that he represented a chevra kadisha, which he did not. Unsuspecting clients thought they were buying cemetery plots and that their agent was going to keep the certificates on record until such time there is a need to use the plots.
According to authorities, the suspect sold at least 156 plots for a total amount of NIS 5,596,902, plots he did not even own. He had a list of 250 plots, which he told potential clients he owns.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
$9,230.00 a Plot
where there is money there are crooks, let the buyer beware and throw the swindler in jail for a long time.
Let’s hope the authorities are able to notify the duped buyers before they attempt to use those invalid plot deeds.
I’m not quite sure the general public is expert enough to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate cemetery plot deeds.
Things can get pretty intense coping with the loss of a loved one and simultaneously making the arrangements in as short a time as possible, sometimes as soon as the following day!
Ironic this issue came up just before parshas Chayeh Sarah.