Two sisters in Beersheba were sentenced to prison and fined hundreds of thousands of shekels on Wednesday after running a large-scale fraud scheme in the Israeli bagrut (matriculation) exams, according to a statement from the State Attorney's office citing the official indictment.
The two girls, Shuruk and Wafa Tza'alok, collected and distributed the questions and answers to approximately 20 different bagrut exams for a fee.
They paid an official proctor to send them photographs of the exams in real time, and conducted their business under pseudonyms on social media to avoid detection by the authorities.
They devised payment systems that concealed all transactions and even provided customers with instructions on how to smuggle electronic devices into the exam rooms.
In the sentencing, Judge Alon Gavison noted that, "Because the defendants encouraged minors and high school students to cheat on their bagrut exams, their actions cause harm to the values of education and integrity. The message of cheating on exams and using illegal 'shortcuts' is condemnable, and all the more so since it is being conveyed to young people."
Convictions, sentencing, and thousands of shekels in fines
The sisters generated approximately NIS 600,000 in profit. Per their confession, they were convicted of fraud, money laundering, and tax-related crimes. Shuruk Tza'alok was sentenced to 44 months of probation and a NIS 300,000 fine; her sister was sentenced to 36 months of probation and a NIS 250,000 fine.
The third defendant, Magad Suad, the exam proctor who provided the girls with their product, was convicted of aiding and abetting fraud and was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and probation.