State seeks to OK extradition of 2 Israelis wanted on tax offenses in France
David Blomberg and Michael Aknin sought by French authorities on suspicion they concealed €51 million from tax authorities
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleStuart Winer is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.
The state prosecution filed a request Sunday to have two French-Israeli men declared extraditable to France, where they are accused of serious fraud for concealing €51 million (NIS 212 million)in income.
The prosecution filed the request with the Jerusalem District court in response to France’s request for the extradition of David Blomberg (Alzara) and Michael Aknin, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.
According to the French extradition request, between 2008 and 2009 the two men ran several companies with the intention of carrying out large-scale tax fraud, concealing some €51 million from French authorities.
The money was then allegedly transferred to bank accounts in East Asia.
The case is being handled in cooperation with the Israel Police and Interpol.
If Blomberg and Aknin are declared extraditable, French authorities can follow up with a formal request for extradition via diplomatic channels that would then be handled by the Foreign and Justice ministries.
Aknin is also wanted by French authorities for allegedly defrauding a communications company and deceiving its customers. He is suspected of artificially inflating sales reports to increase the commissions he received and then laundering the money he obtained, causing the company to collapse, the statement said.
Blomberg has already been declared extraditable in other proceedings after he escaped from a French prison during a furlough and came to Israeli illegally. He was later arrested at the request of France.
The Times of Israel Community.