Israeli retail group Blue Square has revealed that it has been subject to attempted extortion.
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Blue Square made the revelation after an Israeli court lifted its order prohibiting publication of details of a police investigation into the case.
The attempted extortion was aimed at both Blue Square and its subsidiary Blue Square Chain Investments (BSIP), the company said.
Police detained suspects a few days ago following a complaint filed by the supermarket operator. Blue Square said a lawyer had approached it on behalf of a supposed client who claimed there were certain defects at the meat operation in the Park Raanana Mega store operated by BSIP.
According to Blue Square’s statement, the lawyer demanded payment of millions of Israeli shekels by Blue Square in return for refraining from publicising the claimed defects and not filing a class action, and in return also for handing over to Blue Square all the material in his possession relating to the alleged defects. These materials included a videotape, which Blue Square said it suspected was fabricated.
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By GlobalDataThe court extended the detention of the suspects who are under suspicion of extortion, but later transferred them to home detention. The videotape has meanwhile been sent to the Health Ministry for inspection.
