The Prosecution Case
Rauf's testimony (transcript of October 18, 2022)
Main Inquiry
- Rauf immigrated to Israel from Russia in 1995, but returned to Russia and immigrated again in 2015.
The witness lived in rent with the defendant in 2015 when he immigrated to Israel, for a period of one to two weeks (p. 408). He knew the defendant through the defendant's mother, whom he met in Israel (p. 409). Rauff holds a master's degree in metallurgical engineering and also studied construction engineering in Russia, without receiving a diploma. He worked in Russia in construction engineering and as a construction inspector (p. 413).
- The witness was asked about exhibit P/165 – a photograph found on the defendant's phone, with a list of dates and amounts and a little inscription in Russian:
Rauf testified that he compiled the list and sent it to the defendant. In this context, the witness stated that a few years earlier, he had lent the defendant and his wife $28,600, which he transferred to the defendant's account. The defendant promised to repay the money within a few months, but about two years passed and this did not happen. The witness immigrated to Israel, asked the defendant to return the money, and understood that the defendant was facing difficulties and could not repay the loan. The witness insisted that the defendant repay the loan and did not stop demanding the amount. In 2016, the defendant helped him get a job at D.B.S., where he worked for several months. He stopped working at D.B.S. Because "we did not get along in one way or another" and it was also difficult for him to get there. As to the circumstances of the writing of P/165, Rauff stated:
"And this document was born out of feelings, emotions, I kept asking Arkady to give me back the money, the money that appears here is the money I would have received in Tavorinsky, I wrote it, because it's true, you helped me earn money here, and I understand, but you still owe me money and I still need this money" (p. 410).