A convenience store owner from Ashdod is suspected of concealing cash income and attempting to launder money by depositing it into an ATM at his store, police said Tuesday.
The Tax Authority, through investigations conducted by the Beersheba Customs and VAT Department and with the assistance of the Beersheba Customs and VAT Legal Department, is conducting an investigation against a resident of Ashdod suspected of concealing sales income from his convenience store and laundering cash income via an ATM located at the business.
According police, income from cash sales at the store, which was concealed from the tax authorities, was laundered through the suspect's bank accounts by depositing the cash into the ATM located at the shop. For these deposits, the store owner received payments via bank transfers from the company that owns the ATM, in addition to a commission.
Investigation goes public
On Monday, the investigation became public when investigators from the Tax Authority conducted searches at the business and the suspect's home, with the assistance of Ashdod police. During the searches, documents, cash, a luxury Rolex watch, and two luxury BMW cars were seized. Additionally, two of the suspect's bank accounts were frozen.
The suspect and other suspects involved in the case have been detained for additional questioning.