Wanted. Boaz Yona
Israel seeks Boaz Yona's extradition
Justice Ministry files official motion with Italian government to extradite former Heftsiba CEO back to Israel. Yona to face charges of fraud, grand larceny, money laundering
The Israeli Justice Ministry filed an official motion with the Italian government to extradite former Heftsiba CEO Boaz Yona, the ministry's statement said Saturday.
According to the statement, the motion was filed on Wednesday by the Foreign and Justice Ministries, the International Crimes department in the State Prosecutor's Office and the police's National Fraud Unit. It is now awaiting the Italian authorities' reply.
Penance
Efrat Weiss
Boaz Yona's lawyer meets with him at Italian jail ahead of court hearing on extradition to Israel. 'He is depressed and misses his wife and children,' Attorney Yair Golan tells Ynet
The former CEO and owner of the company, Yona fled to Italy to avoid criminal charges and was apprehended in a joint Israeli-Italian police and Interpol operation in late August.
If extradited to Israel Yona would face charges of fraud, forgery, grand larceny, falsifying corporate records, money laundering and several counts of securities fraud.
Police investigation into Heftsiba's collapse revealed, among other things, that Yona was able to extract some $74.8 million from the company, using two sets of accounting books.
Yona's attorney, Yair Golan, is not authorized to practice law in Italy and is now searching for an Italian litigator to represent his client in the extraditing hearing.
