Using the Prohibition on Money Laundering Law - 2000, the Israel Police for the first time succeeded today in damaging the floating casino at Eilat. The police gathered alleged evidence for the concealment of over NIS 100 million in revenue in the past two years, of which tens of millions of shekels was laundered.
250 police officers, VAT and Income Tax Authority investigators raided the Casino Royal, owned by Felix Abutbul (a top police intelligence target, who was murdered in Prague last month) and Dani Yehezkel.
Under the law's clause that permits the confiscation of laundered assets, the police seized the ship, scores of vehicles, including luxury cars, yachts and real estate. 25 suspects were arrested, including a policewoman at the Taba border crossing. They were being brought before a court to extend their detention as of web-posting.
Personal details on scores of gamblers, including sports and entertainment personalities who had spent substantial sums on gambling, were found on the ship.
The Income Tax Authority have also opened an investigation against the accountants and attorneys representing the ship’s owners. They are not of the first rank.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on September 4, 2002