Two dozen arrested or detained, including a Sharon region mayor, in suspected corruption scandal
Suspected of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding contracts, those arrested or detained also include the CEO of an economic development company and the mayor’s wife
Police announced Monday morning that officers from the National Fraud Investigation Unit, part of Lahav 433, had arrested or detained 24 suspects in a public corruption case, including a mayor in central Israel, his wife and the CEO of an economic development company.
The mayor who was arrested is from the Sharon area.
For more than a year, Lahav 433 has been conducting a covert investigation into suspected serious offenses, including public corruption, bribery, fraud and breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses. The investigation involves the mayor of a large city in central Israel, other public officials and businesspeople.
According to the police, during the undercover investigation, significant resources in manpower and means were invested, which strengthened suspicions against those involved.
Police managed to document cash bribe payments. Surveillance and wiretaps were used during the investigation.
Investigators suspect that, in exchange for bribes paid mainly in cash, the mayor and the economic development company’s CEO acted to benefit the bribe payers, securing them lucrative municipal contracts across various sectors. The alleged scheme involved an unusual degree of personal involvement by the mayor.
Police estimate that hundreds of thousands of shekels in bribes reached the mayor and his wife. The mayor’s wife is suspected of maintaining contact with criminal figures and receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash. Police also say the mayor and his wife financed an expensive lifestyle with bribe money, including shopping and trips abroad paid for in cash.
In several cases, the municipal economic development company allegedly placed obstacles in the way of competing bidders to ensure that those who paid bribes would win the tenders.
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The investigation also revealed the involvement of well-known criminal elements from the center of the country, directly or indirectly and over time, in the bribery scheme, in exchange for winning tenders as well as in committing violent offenses.
With the transition to an open investigation this morning, 17 suspects were arrested. In addition, 7 more suspects were detained for questioning.
During the operation, numerous searches were conducted in offices and businesses, and money and property were seized. The investigation is being accompanied by the Economic Department of the State Attorney's Office.
All the suspects were transferred for questioning, and after the initial investigation and as necessary, the unit will request to extend the detention of the arrested individuals at the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court.