A local authority head, senior municipal officials, and businesspeople were detained by Israel Police’s Lahav 433 on Monday morning on suspicion of public corruption offenses
According to police, an undercover investigation into alleged diversion of wartime donations led to searches at homes and offices and to the detainees being taken for questioning at the unit’s headquarters.
In recent months, Lahav 433 conducted a covert probe into whether part of the millions of shekels in donations to the local authority for residents’ welfare during the war were routed to a community fund and then allegedly siphoned to the local authority head and associates.
The case was moved to an overt phase on Monday with searches and detentions.
With the shift to an open investigation, officers searched private residences and municipal offices and detained the local authority head, additional officials at the authority, and several businesspeople, police said.
Police: Combating fraud against the state is a priority
The detainees were transferred to Lahav 433 for questioning, and police are currently raiding the municipality building.
Police said they are acting to eradicate the practice of unlawfully extracting funds from the state as a matter of principle, particularly now.
Investigators assess that they will not seek to extend the suspects’ detention and, after questioning, will request their release under restrictive conditions.