School leaders arrested for cheating Israeli government

The leaders of six educational institutions accused of using fake identification cards to cheat the government of millions of shekels have been arrested.

In raids on nonprofit organizations’ offices associated with the haredi Orthodox institutions, Israeli police reportedly confiscated counterfeit ID cards along with a printer, rubber stamp and laminating machine.

The schools are located in Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, Ramat Beit Shemesh and Betar Ilit in the West Bank.

The fake cards, which use the names and national identification numbers of real people but with different photos, were presented to the Education Ministry in order to receive monthly allocations for students who were supposed to be studying at the school. The organizations made it seem as if hundreds of students attended each of the schools, though only a few dozen did.

The scam has been going on for more than a year, according to reports. Other schools may be involved in the scam, Haaretz reported.