Forgery
Forged Prescriptions: David Atar and Pharmacist Jamil Suaed Indicted Over Fentanyl, Percocet and Ritalin
Forged prescriptions in Israel: 117 fake scripts and 18 doctors' stamps. A Kadima-Tzoran man and a pharmacist are charged over fentanyl, Percocet and Ritalin.
In brief
- The indictment was filed on 22 October 2026 at the Central District Court in Lod by the Central District State Attorney's Office, against David Atar (74) of Kadima-Tzoran and Jamil Suaed (36) of Salameh, the responsible pharmacist at a pharmacy in Beit Yanai.
- According to the indictment, Atar forged 117 prescriptions using 18 doctors' stamps, in the names of dozens of people who did not know about it, including members of his own family.
- According to the indictment, the pharmacy dispensed 690 fentanyl patches, 1,560 Percocet tablets and 3,030 Ritalin tablets, along with other drugs.
- Atar is also charged with laundering at least NIS 335,500. Prosecutors asked for both men to be held in custody until the end of proceedings.
- Status: indictment. Suaed denies the charges, according to Walla. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
What the indictment alleges
According to the indictment, over about six months, from January to June 2026, David Atar went dozens of times to a pharmacy in Beit Yanai and presented prescriptions for addictive drugs. The prescriptions, it is alleged, were not written by a doctor. Prosecutors say Atar held prescription forms, identity cards and their attachments, and 18 stamps of specialist doctors, and used them to forge 117 prescriptions (Israel Hayom, Channel 13 News).
According to the indictment, the prescriptions carried the details of dozens of people who did not know their identities were being used, including Atar's wife and other relatives. Prosecutors say he kept three logbooks recording the names, the types of drugs and the pick-up dates (Bizportal).
The pharmacist's role, according to the prosecution
According to the indictment, Jamil Suaed was the responsible pharmacist at the pharmacy. Prosecutors allege the two agreed that Atar would present the prescriptions, pay the official price of the drug, and add cash for Suaed on every prescription for a dangerous drug. According to the reports, this was NIS 400 to 500 per prescription, adding up to tens of thousands of shekels: Bizportal reports NIS 47,000 to 58,000, and Israel Hayom about NIS 58,000 (Bizportal, Israel Hayom).
According to Israel Hayom, prosecutors say the prescriptions carried obvious signs: spelling mistakes in drug names and medical specialties, names of doctors who do not exist or have retired, an identical handwritten signature attributed to different doctors, and one "doctor" who is in fact a physiotherapist (Israel Hayom).
The money
According to the indictment, Atar sold the drugs to others and hid the money at his home. Walla reports that a search found NIS 219,600, 19,600 euros and 15,450 dollars in cash. Atar is charged with laundering at least NIS 335,500, and prosecutors are seeking forfeiture and a finding that he is a drug dealer (Walla).
The charges against each defendant
According to the reports, both are charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, use of a forged document, obtaining property by fraud in aggravated circumstances, and trafficking in and supplying dangerous drugs. Atar is also charged with forgery with intent to obtain property and with money laundering. Suaed is also charged with dispensing prescription drugs unlawfully (Walla, Israel Hayom).
The evidence and the defence
According to Walla, the prosecution relies on security cameras, phone location data, a surveillance operation on 15 October, the 18 seized stamps and a detailed confession by Atar. According to Bizportal, Atar admitted the suspicions against him and testified against Suaed. The two were arrested on 5 October 2026. Prosecutors say Atar has a criminal record, and Suaed has none (Walla, Bizportal).
Suaed denies the charges. According to Walla, he says it was a mistake, and denies receiving any personal payment or agreeing to the scheme in advance (Walla). An indictment sets out the prosecution's position only, and the court has not ruled.
What the case shows about document forgery
Forgery is not always caught in the handwriting. In this case, according to the prosecution, the signs were in the circumstances: a doctor who does not exist, a wrong specialty, the same signature for different doctors, and the same person returning again and again with prescriptions in other people's names. These are exactly the details checked when a document is suspected of being forged.
Sources: Walla, 22.10.2026. Israel Hayom, 22.10.2026. Channel 13 News, 22.10.2026. Bizportal, 22.10.2026. All sources are in Hebrew.
Further reading: document and signature forgery: how to prove a document is forged, money laundering red flags in a business, and our fraud and embezzlement investigations service.
The information in this section is general and is not legal advice. An indictment sets out the prosecution's position only, and the defendants are presumed innocent.
