Rishon Lezion Mayor Dov Zur is among the 17 city officials who was detained for questioning yesterday in the widening probe into a slew of corruption allegations against coalition chairman David Bitan.
Police suspect Zur ensured his associates won municipal tenders for various building projects, even at higher than average market prices.
Yesterday, the Rishon Lezion District Court remanded Zur into police custody until Thursday, after the judge said his answers were “inconsistent” with investigation material.
Judge Amit Michaels said the court “cannot ignore the fact the suspect is believed to have attempted to conceal his actions.”
“The picture that has been painted in recent months is bleak and worrisome,” he said at the hearing.
Yesterday, Bitan was questioned for a marathon 13 hours by the Lahav 433 Serious Crimes Unit on suspicion of receiving bribes, fraud, money laundering, and breach of trust when he served as deputy mayor of Rishon Lezion in 2015.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 4, 2017
