Police reportedly probing whether senior cop tried to promote in-law

As investigators continue a criminal probe into Deputy Commissioner Manny Binyamin, head of police’s major crimes unit, a new suspicion against him has reportedly arisen — that the high-ranking cop tried to promote an in-law to a senior position under his command.

Earlier this month, the Lahav 433 chief was detained for questioning on suspicion that he illicitly interfered in an investigation being conducted by his unit involving a businessman with whom he maintained close ties.

Binyamin was then interrogated a second time and swiftly went on temporary leave from his post. According to Ynet, investigators questioning Binyamin for a second time did so on suspicion that he sought to appoint Cdr. Tomer Strauss, his wife’s cousin, to command the investigations branch of Lahav’s unit focusing on international crime.

As part of the probe, investigators in the Department for Internal Police Investigations collected testimony from the current commander of the international crime unit, Cdr. Assaf Tzur, as well as police’s head of investigations and intelligence, Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt. Neither are suspects at the moment.

Despite the hopes of many high-ranking officers — including Commissioner Danny Levy — that Binyamin would retake the helm of Lahav 433, a senior police official now tells Ynet that the suspected officer’s chances of returning to his post are very low.