Bank of Jerusalem shares experienced sharp fluctuations on the stock exchange on Thursday amid rumors regarding the disappearance of Mali Yahalomi in Vienna.

The investigation was placed under a gag order on Thursday after it was transferred to Lahav 433 on Wednesday.  An initial Israel Police probe indicated that there are signs that the two may have disappeared on their own volition. Investigators are examining indications that location data was deleted from the women’s mobile phones several days before they disappeared and are also examining the possibility that they had obtained a significant amount of cash before leaving Israel.

Mali is a compliance officer at the Bank of Jerusalem branch in the Chareidi city of Modi’in Ilit. As rumors circulated on Thursday that her role at the bank was connected to her disappearance, the bank’s stock fell during the trading day before recovering some of its losses. At its lowest point, the stock was down 12.39% from the start of the day.

However, Bank of Jerusalem officials said that Mali’s disappearance is an unrelated incident, stressing unequivocally that there is no suspicion of embezzlement or any harm to the funds of the bank or its customers, Channel 12 reported.

The bank issued a statement saying, “Following an examination that was conducted, no findings were discovered indicating any unusual activity involving the bank’s funds or assets.”

Bank of Jerusalem CEO Yair Kaplan also sent a reassuring letter to employees, stating, “In recent days, we have seen media reports concerning the disappearance of Mali Yahalomi. We understand that an event like this raises concerns and uncertainty.”

“It should be stressed that, aside from the fact that she is a bank employee, no connection has been found between the incident and the bank. A gag order has been imposed on the case, and it is prohibited to provide any information on the matter to any party.”

The investigation into the disappearance of the mother and daughter has been transferred to the national investigations unit of Lahav 433, after an assessment emerged in Israel in recent days that the incident was most likely not nationalistically motivated.

At the same time, Austrian authorities are continuing their search for the two women and investigating the circumstances of their disappearance.

On Thursday morning, the court approved a request by Lahav 433 and imposed a gag order on details relating to the investigation. Due to the order, no further details can currently be published regarding the investigative avenues being examined in Israel.

The family is demanding that authorities continue examining the possibility that the disappearance was nationalistically motivated as long as the two have not been found.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)