Bank of Jerusalem sent a message to its customers on Thursday following information and rumors that had surfaced, clarifying that there is no concern that customers’ funds have been embezzled. The message was sent after the bank’s share price fell during the day, at one point dropping by 12.39%.
The message to customers stated: “Following information and rumors that have recently surfaced, and in light of a thorough and comprehensive examination conducted by the bank, we wish to clarify unequivocally that there is no concern whatsoever of embezzlement of Bank of Jerusalem customers’ funds."
It added: “Customers’ funds are safe and protected, and are held and managed in accordance with the provisions of the law, binding procedures, and the bank’s control systems."
The bank added that its operations are continuing as usual: “The bank is operating routinely and properly, and all activity in customers’ accounts is being conducted as normal."
It further stated: “The bank’s control and oversight systems operate continuously and ensure the safeguarding of customers’ funds and the proper conduct of banking activities."
The decline in the bank’s share price comes against the backdrop of rumors surrounding the disappearance of Mali Yahalomi, an employee of the bank. Bank of Jerusalem CEO Yair Kaplan addressed her disappearance in a letter to employees, writing: “Apart from the fact that she is an employee of the bank, no connection has been found between the incident and the bank."
Kaplan emphasized that a gag order has been imposed on the case and that information regarding it must not be disseminated. Bank of Jerusalem stated earlier: “Following an examination that was conducted, no findings were discovered indicating any unusual activity involving the bank’s funds or assets."
A court issued a gag order regarding the investigation into the disappearance of two Israeli citizens, Mali and Liel Yahalomi, in Vienna, Austria. The two, a mother and daughter, have been missing since the weekend, and responsibility for investigating their disappearance was transferred Wednesday night to the Lahav 433 investigative unit.
During the night, members of the Yahalomi family gave testimony to Lahav 433 and expressed anger over reports that they said had been disseminated “in the name of Israel Police."
According to the family, “Some of the information that was published was not presented to the family, and the family possesses information that substantially contradicts some of the claims raised in the reports. According to information provided by the police, there was no unusual activity in Mali and Liel’s bank accounts, and the last activity took place on August 3."
The family added: “The family wishes to clarify unequivocally that, contrary to what was published by the police spokesperson’s office, at this stage there is no basis whatsoever for ruling out the possibility of a nationalist-motivated terrorist incident."
The family further stated that contact with Mali and Liel has been lost since Friday evening, August 7, and that throughout their trip they had remained in contact with the family, sharing photographs and experiences, before contact with them was suddenly lost.
Police representatives were sent to Austria to participate in the investigation there. According to information that has been published, cellphone location data obtained by police in Israel and Austria indicates that the two women were in the vicinity of a train station in the city during the past Shabbat. The station is part of a larger complex that includes a large park.
Since that location data was obtained, there has been no indication of the women’s whereabouts, nor has there been any activity on their credit cards.
It was also reported Wednesday that investigators were examining whether the two had been carrying large sums of money and whether they had deleted location data from their mobile phones.