Chairman of Eilat religious council indicted for fraud

Moshe Elmakias allegedly used false representation to rent a car at a total cost of NIS 17,526.

By JOANNA PARASZCZUK
Bibi netanyahu (photo credit: JPost Staff)
Bibi netanyahu
(photo credit: JPost Staff)
The Southern District Attorney’s Office served an indictment on Wednesday, charging the chairman of the Eilat religious council, Rabbi Haviv Haziza, and his predecessor Moshe Elmakias, with fraud, breach of trust and receiving something by deception in aggravated circumstances.
The indictment, filed by attorney Alex Derenboim in the Eilat Magistrate’s Court, charges that Haziza and Elmakias used false representation to rent a car at a total cost of NIS 17,526.
According to the indictment, Elmakias served as chairman of the Eilat religious council until November 2009, when Haziza was appointed in his stead.
The indictment charges that when Elmakias ceased working for the religious council, the Religious Affairs Ministry said he could no longer utilize council resources, including rental cars.
Allegedly, in November 2009, after his employment at the religious council ended, Elmakias attempted to hire a car from an Eilat car rental company, which had a long-standing agreement with the religious council.
When his credit card company refused to authorize payment for the car, Elmakias allegedly called the Eilat religious council’s secretary and asked her to confirm to the car hire company that the council would cover the costs of the car.
The indictment charges that the council’s secretary faxed confirmation to the car hire company, which Elmakias signed, although he had no authority to do so.
When the month-long rental agreement ended, Elmakias allegedly asked the rental company to send the invoice to a private company owned and run by Haziza, so that Haziza could write a check in payment. However, according to the indictment, Elmakias then asked the hire company to extend the car-rental agreement.
When the car-rental company turned to the Eilat religious council, the secretary confirmed the council would pay, an arrangement Haziza was allegedly aware of.
The indictment alleges that the rental continued for four months, until May 2010, when the car-rental company charged the Eilat religious council NIS 17,526 for the vehicle.