Police in Israel have reportedly accused entrepreneur Moshe Hogeg of defrauding users out of roughly $290 million through scams involving crypto projects.
According to an Aug. 23 report from the Times of Israel, the national police force recommended to prosecutors that Hogeg be charged with fraud, theft, money laundering, and sex crimes, accusing the Israeli citizen of raising $290 million from investors for crypto projects under false pretenses. The entrepreneur had been previously detained by Israeli authorities in November 2021 for allegedly engaging in unlawful activities including fraud involving cryptocurrency, for which he spent roughly a month under house arrest.
The report followed a two-year investigation into Hogeg’s allegedly illegal activities, some of which involved cryptocurrency projects. In June, he traveled to Morocco and announced his involvement in Tomi, a blockchain project based on an “alternative internet network”. Hogeg told Cointelegraph at the time that as a figure in the crypto space, he may have become a target to authorities.
The police investigation reportedly involved questioning 180 people as well as seizing money and property in several countries. A spokesperson for Hogeg reportedly said he welcomed the conclusion of the investigation, and described many publications covering the case as doing a “great injustice” against him. He has denied all the allegations.
Among Hogeg’s purchases using the allegedly illegal funds included $7 million for ownership of the Beitar Jerusalem football club. He sold the team to businessman Barak Abramov in August 2022.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party.
The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.
She told Sir Keir Starmer the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to”, despite their unpopularity with the electorate and MPs.
In her letter she accused the prime minister and his top team of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice” which are “off the scale”.
“I’m so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party,” she said.
Since December 2019, the prime minister received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality – a specific category in parliament’s register of MPs’ interests.
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Ms Duffield, who has previously clashed with the prime minister on gender issues, attacked the government for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies as she resigned the Labour whip.
She criticised the decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test the winter fuel payment, and accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of free gifts from donors.
“Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous,” she said.
“I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear.”
Ms Duffield also mentioned the recent “treatment of Diane Abbott”, who said she thought she had been barred from standing by Labour ahead of the general election, before Sir Keir said she would be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat for the party.
Her relationship with the Labour leadership has long been strained and her decision to quit the party comes after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for rebelling by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished.
“Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives’ two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp – this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour prime minister,” she said.
Ms Duffield said she will continue to represent her constituents as an independent MP, “guided by my core Labour values”.