Head of a central Israel authority and his wife arrested in a bribery affair

Police from Yahal Lahav 433 arrested 17 suspects this morning in a public corruption case, among them the head of a large authority in central Israel, his wife and the CEO of an economic company. According to the suspicion, in exchange for cash bribe money, the suspects advanced the awarding of lucrative tenders to the bribers, with the involvement of known criminal elements.

Officers of the National Unit for Fraud Investigations (Yahal) in Lahav 433 arrested this morning (Monday) 17 suspects in a wide-scale public corruption affair, among them the head of a large authority in central Israel, his wife and the CEO of an economic company. The investigation, conducted covertly for over a year, focused on suspicion of serious offences of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, money laundering and tax offences. According to the suspicion, in exchange for bribe money transferred mainly in cash, the head of the authority and the CEO of the company acted, with unusual involvement by the head of the authority's wife, to benefit the bribers and bring about their winning of lucrative tenders in various fields in the local authority. The investigation further indicates that known criminal elements from central Israel were involved, directly or indirectly and over time, in the bribery mechanism and in the commission of violent offences. During the transition to an open investigation, searches were carried out in offices and businesses, and money and property were seized. Seven additional suspects were detained for questioning. The investigation is accompanied by the Economic Department in the State Attorney's Office. All the suspects were transferred for questioning, after which the unit is expected to request an extension of detention at the Magistrate's Court in Rishon LeZion.