After his arrest in Verona on Thursday evening, Israeli officials were quick to file an extradition request for Heftsiba CEO Boaz Yona to the Italian Ministry of Justice. The two countries have a mutual extradition
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| 'I called out his name and he turned around' / Dana Levy |
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Chief Superintendent Dror Asraf, Israeli representative at Heftsiba CEO's arrest in Italy, tells Ynet, 'He was in complete shock and was trembling'. Some 45,000 euro in cash found in Boaz Yona's apartment. Meanwhile, people who broke into Heftsiba apartments find it difficult to calm down, even after arrest |
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Yona fled Israel after his troubled construction company declared bankruptcy, sparking outrage from hundreds of clients who had paid for new apartments and were now homeless.
Israel Police's National Fraud Unit issued an international arrest warrant for Yona and enlisted Interpol's help in the searches. Yona was first believed to be in London but Israeli entrepreneurs reported spotting him in Romania, prompting an extensive search.
But Yona apparently managed to escape the eastern European nation as the search commenced and ran to Italy where, after leaving a romantic restaurant with his wife, he was finally arrested.
Yona's attorney Yair Golan told Ynet that his client intends to cooperate fully with the investigation and extradition proceedings, an attempt to clean up his tarnished reputation back home as a rich tycoon who ran away and left families stranded without homes.
Yona will be represented in Italy by Professor Daniella Dawan, a prominent expert on criminal law in Italy.
Detectives from the National Fraud Unit are currently en route to Venice to meet up with Yona – and escort him back to Israel.
If he does not fight the extradition request, Yona is expected back in Israel by the upcoming Jewish New
Year in mid-September.
Should he elect to contest the extradition, the legal process may take up to two months.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
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