Extortionists in collusion with victim's business partner

Business owner files a complaint alleging that a group of suspects were continually harassing, intimidating and threatening him.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
police car 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
police car 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Three men who allegedly conducted a campaign of intimidation and extortion against a business owner in Tel Aviv were acting in collusion with the man’s own business partner, police said on Monday.
The business owner, who now lives in the South, filed a complaint with the Negev Police’s central unit several weeks ago, alleging that a group of suspects were continually harassing, intimidating and threatening him in an attempt to extort money from him.
The visits by the suspects first began several months ago, police said, when they allegedly burst into his Tel Aviv business and notified him that his partner owed them hundreds of thousands of shekels, but was unable to pay them.
“They said that if he himself does not cover the debt, they would harm him,” police said.
Fearing for his life, the man paid the sum requested of him, but demands for further payments continued.
He abandoned his work place and moved to the South, but was stunned to discover that the men had tracked him down and continued to demand money, police added.
The man was convinced by a friend to lodge a complaint with police, resulting in an undercover investigation.
On Sunday, officers raided the homes of four suspects in the Center, including that of the victim’s business partner.
“According to preliminary investigation results, the suspects first began to extort the victim after being approached by his partner, who had amassed a debt. The partner came up with the idea of extorting his partner and sharing the money with the other suspects,” police said.
Negev Police spokesman Tamir Abatbi said two suspects, including the business partner “tied themselves to suspicions against them,” while the two other suspects have denied any wrongdoing.