Barak Abramov, a prominent businessman and owner of the Beitar Jerusalem football club and the 'Japanika' restaurant chain, has initiated legal action by filing a 1 million NIS defamation lawsuit in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court. The defendant is the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), following a series of reports broadcast by the network which, according to Abramov, defamed him and unlawfully linked him to elements belonging to the Israeli underworld.
According to the reports, the legal dispute centers on allegations made by the corporation suggesting that Abramov granted franchise rights for Japanika branches to individuals associated with the Jarushi crime family, thereby allegedly making them his business partners. Conversely, through his attorney, Haim Pitchon, Abramov categorically denies these claims. The statement of claim asserts that no footprint, ownership, or partnership of any kind has ever been granted to the aforementioned crime family in his business operations.
Abramov further claims that the reports were produced without minimal factual verification, without granting him an appropriate opportunity to respond to the allegations before publication, and while distorting reality. Beyond denying links to criminal elements, the lawsuit presents an entirely different picture. According to Abramov, he does not cooperate with criminal organizations but is, in fact, a victim. He points out that his businesses have suffered from a violent campaign, including the throwing of grenades, arson attempts, and the planting of explosive devices, all within the framework of a violent power struggle between the Jarushi and Musli criminal organizations.
According to the plaintiff, the reports by the corporation did more than cause severe reputational damage; they led to a drastic decline in the restaurant chain's revenues and inflicted ongoing financial harm. The lawsuit emphasizes the importance of one's reputation and criticizes the journalistic coverage, which the plaintiff claims ignored actual facts and portrayed him as having connections to criminals when, in reality, these are false allegations that have caused him heavy losses. The case is now before the court, which will need to examine the parties' arguments regarding the accuracy of the publications, the scope of the alleged damages, and the defenses available to the broadcasting corporation.