Leonid Lapshov, a former Haifa resident who now lives primarily abroad, is suspected of selling and converting cryptocurrencies totaling about NIS 2 million and maintaining undeclared foreign bank accounts in Russia without reporting them to the Israel Tax Authority.
1+According to investigators, Lapshov executed extensive sales and conversions of digital currencies on an offshore exchange between 2019 and 2020 valued at roughly NIS 2 million. Furthermore, between 2019 and 2021, he allegedly maintained three undisclosed bank accounts in the Russian Federation.
The investigation also revealed that one of the Russian accounts held about $500,000, a second account held about 600,000 rubles, and a third held about €20,000. The suspect was also questioned under caution regarding additional offenses under the Income Tax Ordinance and the Prohibition on Money Laundering Law.
1+Yesterday, the covert investigation turned overt as authorities questioned the suspect. Lapshov was subsequently brought before the Haifa Magistrate’s Court, which ordered his release under restrictive conditions, including an 180-day stay-of-exit order from Israel and the immediate surrender of his passport.