Cop who investigated Netanyahu suspected of passing tips to mafia for kickbacks

Investigators suspect retired police detective Tzachi Havkin, a witness in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s graft trial, of passing information to a powerful crime family, Hebrew outlets report.

The former Lahav 433 detective had been one of the police investigating cases 2000 and 4000, both involving Netanyahu’s alleged promises of favors to media magnates in return for positive coverage.

Havkin later resigned his post and gave testimony in the trial, alleging police misconduct in the case.

The Jerusalem District Court lifted a gag order on Havkin’s name this morning.

According to reports, Havkin was arrested alongside three other police officers in September on suspicion of aiding the Musli crime family in exchange for bribes.

Investigators in the Department of Internal Police Investigations believe Havkin provided the family with information about planned police actions against its members, as well as intelligence on the rival Jarushi crime family.

According to Haaretz, the Justice Ministry agency suspects that the officers leaked confidential information to the group about an ongoing case against its kingpin, Yossi Musli, and informed it that prosecutors planned to recruit a state witness to testify against him.