Three Negev residents charged with fraudulently claiming security fees from local authority

The State Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment against three Negev residents accused of fraudulently obtaining sponsorship payments from the El Kassom Regional Council. The three defendants — Ani al-Atrash, Spian Atrash, and Salem al-Kashshar — allegedly claimed the funds under the guise of providing security services that were never actually delivered. The case was brought before the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The charges relate to what prosecutors describe as a scheme in which the men requested and received payments from the regional council for protective security measures purportedly carried out on the authority’s behalf. According to the indictment, the work was either significantly underperformed or not completed at all, yet the payments were collected regardless.

Regional councils in Israel oversee local governance across multiple communities in rural areas, including parts of the Negev region in southern Israel. They depend on accurate contracting and honest service delivery to maintain essential services for residents. The case highlights concerns about fraudulent billing practices within some local government arrangements.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.