Shots fired at Emblaze founder Reifman's car
Police searching for assailants, checking whether indebted businessman was in his Chevrolet during shooting. Associate says firebomb was thrown at Reifman's vehicle last Thursday. Attorney: We told court his life was in danger
A number of shots were fired Sunday night at businessman Eli Reifman's car, Ynet learned.
The bullet-ridden car was found partially blocking the entrance to a parking lot on Alexander Zarhin Street in Raanana's industrial zone, near the offices of Emblaze, which Reifman co-founded.
There were no reports of injury, but the vehicle was damaged. Police are checking whether Reifman was in the vehicle during the shooting and managed to escape, or whether someone moved the car after the shooting.
Eyewitnesses said two unknown assailants riding a motorcycle approached the vehicle. They fled the scene after one of them opened fire at the Chevrolet, according to eyewitness accounts.
Large police forces were combing the area in search of the assailants.
Reifman's associate said that last Thursday evening unknown assailants threw a firebomb at the Emblaze co-founder's car.
According to the associate, Reifman was in his car during Sunday night's incident, which according to him was an attempted hit.
"Eli was leaving the parking lot when one of two motorcyclists that approached him got off of his motorcycle and opened fire, hitting the front seat of Eli's car," said the associate. "An Emblaze security guard approached the motorcyclists with his gun drawn, and they immediately fled the scene."
Reifman, cofounder of the information technology holding company Emblaze, was recently sentenced by the Tel Aviv District Court to 45 days in jail for contempt of court after he refused to comply with a court order to hand over his 39 million shares in Emblaze to the special manager of his assets, Adv. Eitan Erez.
However, Reifman's incarceration was delayed, and he spent Rosh Hashana at home. He told the court he would hand over the shares without delay. The Supreme Court is expected to hold a hearing on the matter on Monday.
During a bankruptcy in March, Reifman said that he has run up debts of $35 million, $17.5 million of which are to gray-market lender Shelly Narkis.
Reifman's attorney, Doron Afik told Ynet in response to the incident, "We have no idea who is behind the (shooting), but we had told the court that we fear for (Reifman's) life.
"Eli was never afraid of Narkis. Shelly, like all of Reifman's creditors, supported him and believed that he would be able to pay off his debts," said the attorney.
Afik denied reports according to which Narkis demanded that Reifman purchase NIS 15 million ($ 4 million) worth of life insurance.
Tani Goldstein contributed to the report
