Police say graft suspicions ‘bolstered’ against PM’s ex-bureau chief

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court orders a former bureau chief to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be held in jail for a further six days, saying that the suspicious against him have been “bolstered” in the Case 3000 criminal probe surrounding Israeli naval acquisitions from Germany.

The suspect, David Sharan, a former top aide to Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz before joining the Prime Minister’s Office as chief of staff to the premier in 2014, had his remand extended until September 12.

“The suspicions against Sharan have been significantly bolstered,” said Judge Einat Ron during the hearing. Police say Sharan, one of a number of high-profile public officials arrested in the affair, is suspected of taking bribes, fraud, breach of trust and conspiring to commit a crime.

“There have been a number of developments of the past few days regarding the suspects, including Sharan,” Ron says, adding that there was an additional suspicion he could obstruct the investigation if released from police custody.

Sharan and five other suspects were arrested Sunday in early morning raids as part of the ongoing corruption investigation into the multi-million-dollar purchase of vessels from Germany.

— Raoul Wootliff