Gambling Company Chief Charges Extortionists
Published: Friday, August 19, 2005 Online-Casinos.com
GAMBLING COMPANY CHIEF CHARGES EXTORTIONISTS
Three men in custody for trying to profit from threats
Israeli media were following an interesting criminal case laid against three men by Empire Online CEO Noam Lanir this week.
Motti Menashe, Benny Bracha and Israel Guetta appeared in the Ramle Magistrate's Court on remand pending the completion of investigations, where it is alleged that the accuseds tried to get a slice of Lamir's multi-million dollar company by threatening him and his family with violence.
They chose the wrong man to intimidate. Lanir, the 38 year old son of an Israeli war hero immediately laid charges with the police and an elaborate undercover operation resulted in the arrest of the accuseds.
Police suspect that the arrested persons are affiliated with local criminal gangs with gambling interests. The police put Lanir under close protection, concerned that he might be attacked.
Lanir sold $63 million worth of shares in Empire Online as part of its recent IPO, and now owns 21.4 percent of the company, which recently tripled profits. The price of Empire Online shares has risen by 35 percent since the IPO, and the company is currently valued at more than $1.2 billion.
