AUDETTE Africa-Israel Has Three Bidders 24 Month Lease Brand New 1997 Sedan DeVille STK#D7160 Your Choices... passed on about $4 million of the loan it received as "agent corn- mission" to the bank accounts of Doharti, Kelner and Robert 06 Jerusalem (JPFS) — Only three Lackey, the businessman who in- bidders emerged for a major troduced UMB-London man- stake in Africa-Israel Invest- agement to Facia's previous ments, fewer than parent Bank owner, Stefen Hinchliffs. The money was transferred to secret Leumi had hoped. One bid came from Lev bank accounts in Switzerland. Mr. Hinchliffs is currently be- Leviev, who has holdings in the ing investigated by Scotland diamond business. A second bid Yard. The episode occurred at a was by U.S. tycoon Ronald Laud- time when Hinchliffs had a very .1 er in partnership with New York poor reputation in England and investment bank Bear Stearns, no one would work with him but according to a source familiar Bank Mizrahi, a source close to with the bidding. the episode said. The third bid was submitted According to the source, by a South African investment Mizrahi expects the suit to im- group representing Africa-Is- prove its position and help it re- rael's minority shareholders. This third consortium cur- cover the money lost. General banking insurance al- rently controls about 8 percent lows for recovery only if actual of the company. Leumi is selling a block of monetary benefit is proven. Ac- shares representing about 46.58 cording to the source; Mizrahi ex- percent of Africa-Israel's share pects the evidence revealed in the capital and some 54.2 percent of suit is "only the tip of the ice- the voting rights in the compa- berg." A UMB spokesperson refused ny. The bank is compelled to re- duce its ownership in the to comment on the episode. 62-year-old holding company to 25 percent to comply with Israel's banking law. Bank Sues For Bribery Northstar V8, Chrome Wheels & Leather. 7100 ORCHARD LAKE RD • WEST BLOOMFIELD • (810) 851-7200 •24 mos. lease, based on MSRP of $39,865. Option to purchase at lease end for predetermined price. Mileage charge of 15e per mile over 24,000 miles. Lessee re- sponsible for excess wear & tear, 1st, sec. deposit, plus taxes & title. GMAC must approve lease. fomeone'51ife llolidaySeasn r B ing in any new or used sweater for donation to VI 10.121LA T HE D ET R O IT J E WIS H N E WS Residential & Support Services For Adults With Mental Illness 58 And well give you Off any sweater in our store. (Through November 30, 1996) 271 W Maple • Downtown Birmingham • MON.-SAT. 10 - 6 • 258.0212 THURS. 10 - 9 Jerusalem (JPFS) — United Mizrahi Bank filed a suit against a former general-manager of UMB-London and his deputy for allegedly receiving bribes from the Facia chain. The episode is connected to the disclosure of irregularities at the London branch in the third quar- ter of 1995. As a result, UMB made a spe- cial provision of $27 million in 1995 to cover potential bad loans, resulting from the London branch's failure to follow Mizrahi's credit procedures. Fol- lowing the bank's revelation of the scandal, branch general- manager Rafi Kelner and his deputy John Doharti were fired. UMB filed the suit at the Lon- don Court against Mr. Klener and Mr. Doharti for allegedly re- ceiving bribes from Facia in ex- change for organizing a $38 million loan. The UK-based Facia retail chain was made up of about 10 retail stores in London that op- erated under one umbrella. The loan was given for very little col- lateral and was above the UK's approved credit ceiling. Most of the bank's suspicions are based on the investigation by KPMG, the accounting firm which was appointed receiver of Facia. The chain collapsed in July, leaving accumulated debts of about $330 million, including the debt to UMB London. The receiver found that Facia Christian Tourism Nears Disaster Jeruasalem (JPFS) — German di tourism officials predicted a "dis- aster" for the Israel tourist in- dustry unless the political situation changes. Gisela Meyer-Amler, manag- ing director of Biblische Reisen, and Klaus Behrendt, the associ- ate director for travel to Israel, predicted fewer visits from Eu-. ropean Christians — one of the mainstays of Israel's tourism market. The two were on a visit with a group of 50 of the compa- ny's employees, the first time they had organized such a tour. "We have lived through every crisis — the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, the war in Lebanon in 1982, the intifada, even the Gulf War — but we have never seen such a dramat- ic drop in 'reservations," Mr. 411 Behrendt said. Biblische Reisen was estab- lished 30 years ago as a joint pro- ject of the Catholic and Protestant Bible Societies in Ger- many. It handles some 40,000 travelers a year, with about half of them going to Israel and a mi- nority of these also visiting neigh- boring countries. According to Meyer-Amler, the company was1 the first in Germany to take groups to Israel on El Al, which remains its main carrier, along with some Arkia charters. Publicity Deadlines The normal deadline for local news and publicity items is noon Thursday, eight days prior to issue date. The deadline for birth announcements is 10 a.m. Monday, four days prior to issue date; out-of-town obituaries, 10 a.m. Tuesday, three days prior to issue date.