The State Attorney’s Office on Monday filed an indictment with the Nazareth District Court against 10 defendants, including Asaf Buskila, Adir Ben Hamo, and Meir Amar, accusing them of operating an organized criminal network that allegedly operated for years in Migdal HaEmek and the surrounding area.
According to the indictment, the organization was led by Buskila, an inmate at Shita Prison, who allegedly directed the gang’s activities from behind bars while instructing members operating outside the prison.
The defendants include Migdal HaEmek residents Asaf Buskila, 30; Adir Ben Hamo, 23; Meir Amar, 64; Liel Malka, 23; Shani Cohen, 32; Aliza Buskila, 48; Moti Levy, 26; Elimelech Perido, 26; and Oded Davit, 25. Lian Neiman, 29, of Kiryat Haim, was also charged.
Prosecutors allege that over the course of nearly four years, the group operated a structured criminal enterprise involved in illegal gambling, loan sharking, debt collection through threats, exploitation, and money laundering. The indictment, filed by attorneys Shani Malul and Tehila Bernes of the Northern District Attorney’s Office, states that the operation generated at least NIS 3 million.
Gambling ring head orchestrated debt collection efforts from behind bars
Despite being incarcerated, Buskila allegedly remained in daily contact with members of the organization, issuing instructions and directing debt collection efforts. Prosecutors say borrowers and gamblers who fell into financial distress were intimidated into repaying their debts through fear and threats.
The indictment further alleges that Buskila, together with Ben Hamo, Amar, and Davit, rigged roulette games at a gambling apartment they operated in Migdal HaEmek. According to prosecutors, the roulette table was equipped with a remotely controlled magnetic mechanism that enabled the group to manipulate the outcome of games at will in order to increase their profits.
In one alleged incident, after a debtor accumulated a debt of at least NIS 100,000, members of the organization conspired to assault him to force repayment. Prosecutors say they lured him to the gambling apartment under false pretenses, where several members of the group were waiting with an attack dog. Once inside, they allegedly locked the door, beat him, and set the dog on him, causing bite wounds to his arms and legs.
The indictment also describes a separate case in which the defendants allegedly provided a NIS 50,000 loan carrying monthly interest payments of NIS 3,000. After the borrower struggled to keep up with the payments and was repeatedly threatened, prosecutors say he ultimately paid the defendants at least NIS 128,700.
Defendants charged with exploitation, aggravated assault
The defendants are charged, each according to their alleged role, with offenses including organizing and operating illegal gambling, maintaining gambling premises, extortion by threats, extortion by force, exploitation, providing credit without a license, issuing loans at usurious interest rates in violation of the Fair Credit Law, money laundering, conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining property by fraud, aggravated assault, and additional offenses.
The State Attorney’s Office has also asked the court to keep the defendants in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against them.
