Cleaner Sentenced to Community Service for Thefts from Employers
A 43-year-old cleaner was sentenced to seven months of community service for stealing tens of thousands of shekels and valuables from employers while impersonating others.
A 43-year-old woman, Afaf Ghadir, was sentenced on Monday to seven months of community service for stealing money and valuables from homes where she was hired to clean. She was convicted of multiple counts of theft and impersonation.
Systematic Theft from Employers
In one of the incidents, Ghadir worked as a housekeeper and stole approximately $2,000 along with various other currencies, totaling around 61,000 shekels in euros, dollars, British pounds, and Israeli shekels. The money had been hidden by the apartment owner, her daughter, and her partner in locations such as a bedroom underwear drawer and a wardrobe.
In another case, Ghadir responded to a job posting in a Facebook group for domestic workers. According to the indictment, she presented herself under another woman's name and even directed the homeowner to obtain recommendations about her. After being hired, she stole necklaces worth 7,900 shekels and 700 shekels in cash from one of the rooms. A few days later, when asked for personal details for National Insurance Institute registration, she provided false information using her sister's name and sent a photo of her sister's ID card.
Court Verdict and Sentence
In a third case, she stole 16,600 shekels in cash and a 2,300-shekel gold chain from another employer. Ghadir confessed to the actions and was convicted of two counts of theft by an employee, one count of theft, and one count of impersonation with intent to defraud. The prosecution requested an actual prison sentence, emphasizing the systematic planning and the breach of trust, while the defense asked the court to consider her personal circumstances and confession.
Judge Tal Tadmor-Zamir stated in the verdict: "The crime of theft from an employer is carried out by exploiting the trust placed by the employer in the employee and damages the delicate fabric of these essential relationships."
The court noted that the stolen property was not returned to the victims, except for 1,500 shekels, and that Ghadir had a prior conviction for a similar theft offense committed in 2022. Ultimately, she was sentenced to seven months of community service and a fine of 4,000 shekels.