Council head arrested for bribery, fraud

Six additional suspects were detained for investigation. In recent months, a tender task force in Lahav 433 has been conducting a covert investigation in cooperation with the Southern District of the Israel Police, on suspicion of committing bribery offenses by manipulating tenders, fraud, and breach of contract, and employing fictitious council employees with the aim of fraudulently obtaining funds from the council and pocketing them for the suspects. Today, with the transition to the overt phase of the investigation, Lahav investigators, along with Southern District investigators, Border Police fighters, Mat’pa fighters, Border Police Tactical Brigade fighters, and Gideonim Unit 33 fighters, arrested seven suspects, including senior officials in the council, including the head of the council and his family members, and detained six additional suspects. Searches were also conducted in the local authority’s offices. In accordance with the needs of the investigation, the suspects will be brought later today for an extension of their arrest at the Rishon LeZion Magistrate’s Court. The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the Southern District, the Tax Authority (VAT and Income Tax), the Authority for the Prohibition of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, and is accompanied by the Economic Department of the State Attorney’s Office.