Stas Misezhnikov named as former minister probed by police
Ex-Yisrael Beytenu MK, who headed Tourism Ministry, questioned over bribe suspicions during his term in office
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Former tourism minister Stas Misezhnikov was revealed on Thursday as the government minister questioned this week by police on suspicion of taking bribes.
Misezhnikov, a former Yisrael Beytenu lawmaker, served as minister from 2009 to 2013 and investigators are looking into suspicions that he fixed millions of shekels worth of government tenders for large public events to benefit his personal acquaintance, Julie Roth.
The investigation was triggered by the 2013 State Comptroller report that highlighted irregularities in Misezhnikov’s handling of event tenders under his control, including a large student event in Eilat in 2010 that was organized by Roth.
Police detained Misezhnikov for questioning on Tuesday morning and several of his associates were also probed. The former minister was questioned at the police’s Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit in Lod for several hours.
Authorities said they had searched the homes of a number of the suspects and confiscated computers and documents.
Roth was also questioned by police, Ynet reported.
The investigation into Misezhnikov’s conduct was carried out secretly over the past year, police said, before being revealed earlier this week.
His name had been kept under gag order until Thursday.
In 2012, Misezhnikov made headlines after some of his former bodyguards reported that he enjoyed drinking to excess on a regular basis, visiting strip clubs and dodging security personnel.
Several of those who served as Misezhnikov protection detail were quoted by Channel 2 news describing the after-hours lifestyle of the then-minister.
Ministers, Knesset members and even prime ministers under investigation for corruption and other criminal charges are not uncommon in Israel.
In May, former prime minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to six years in prison, a two-year suspended term, and a fine of NIS 1 million ($289,000) for his involvement in a graft scandal surrounding the construction of the Holyland residential complex in Jerusalem.
On Monday, a judge said Olmert and other officials convicted in the case could stay out of jail during the appeals process.
Gavriel Fiske and AP contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.