Deputy Commissioner Ephraim Bracha, who headed the Israel Police National Fraud Squad, took his own life last night. Bracha was found shot in his car near Modi'in, where he lived.
Bracha was a highly respected police officer. He was responsible for the conviction on bribery charges of influential rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, after he recorded Pinto offering him and his wife cash in return for information about a police investigation into his affairs. Pinto was convicted on April 14 this year. No evidence was found of any criminal offence on Bracha's part. In the wake of this case, several lawyers approached the Attorney General in an attempt to prevent Bracha's promotion to head of the national Fraud Unit, but were rebuffed. In recent weeks, there have been reports of a police investigation of Bracha himself.
Israel Police said in a statement this morning, "With great sorrow, Israel Police announced the death of Deputy Commissioner Ephraim Bracha. Bracha, who was married with four children, lived in Modi'in, and was aged 55 at this death, filled a series of posts in the police since 1983. In his last post, Bracha served as head of the National Fraud Squad. Israel Police bows its head, and shares in the family's grief."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 5, 2015
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