Avi Koren, a Herzliya resident known as the “luxury jewelry dealer to the celebrities,” was extradited from Greece to Israel on Tuesday after fleeing during his trial and was sentenced to 16 months in prison under a plea deal.
Koren was accused of smuggling luxury watches and jewelry worth about 6 million shekels, or about $1.6 million, into Israel to evade taxes. He was arrested in Greece a year ago, as first reported by Calcalist, and his trial resumed Wednesday morning at the Lod District Court. As part of the plea agreement, Koren admitted to money laundering offenses and was convicted.
According to the amended indictment filed by the National Customs Legal Unit at the Israel Tax Authority, Koren initiated and planned a systematic smuggling operation under aggravated circumstances, bringing luxury watches and jewelry into Israel with a total value of about 6 million shekels.
The indictment said the watches and jewelry were smuggled through Ben Gurion Airport by a courier who carried them on her body or in her luggage, without declaring them to customs authorities and without paying import taxes as required by law.
It also alleged that Koren sold watches and jewelry to customers in Israel without reporting the sales to tax authorities or paying income tax and VAT.
After his trial began, Koren stopped appearing for hearings. About three years ago, he left Israel and did not return. Proceedings against him were suspended, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Proceedings against two of his alleged accomplices have already concluded, and they have been sentenced.
Koren was arrested in Greece based on an Interpol red notice issued at Israel’s request. Israel later submitted an extradition request through the State Attorney’s Office International Department to resume the legal proceedings against him.
In November, Greece’s Supreme Court ruled that Koren could be extradited to Israel on money laundering charges only. In March, Greece’s deputy justice minister ordered his extradition.
The extradition was carried out by the Israel Police Operational Coordination Department in the Intelligence Division and its aerial unit, in cooperation with Greek authorities. The investigation was led by the Beer Sheva Customs and VAT Investigations unit and the Tax Authority’s Yahalom unit.