Two government officials arrested in corruption probe
Israel Land Authority agents among seven suspects arrested over alleged bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
By TAMARA ZIEVEUpdated: OCTOBER 11, 2018 02:03Lahav 433 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Two senior officials from the Israel Land Authority were among seven suspects arrested on Wednesday as part of ongoing investigations into corruption in the public sector.The investigation is being carried out by the police´s Lahav 433 National Crime Unit based on suspicions that the suspects are involved in bribery, fraud and breach of trust.Israel Police Foreign Press Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that in the framework of their jobs, the senior officials are suspected of receiving bribes in exchange for illegally providing information in order to advance the interests of others.When police arrested the suspects on Wednesday morning they searched their homes and offices.Tel Aviv daily Yediot Aharonot reported that one of the suspects, a businessman, confessed during questioning to having given a NIS 70,000 bribe to a senior official at the Authority. Yediot also reported that two of the suspects arrested are lawyers.“The Police will continue to investigate and expose improper processes in the field of public corruption,” the police said.The Israel Land Authority said in a statement: “In the framework of an investigation by the Israel Police, two employees of one of the departments were arrested. We will make available to the police any information that may be required. Beyond that, we cannot expand any further.”