Suspicion of monopolies in school trips to Poland

The Israel Antitrust Authority and Israel Police say they suspect several leading travel agencies for colluding in order to prevent competition in the field of organized school trips to Nazi death camps in Poland.

The allegations include fraud and antitrust violations.

This morning, following a joint clandestine probe by the police and the authority, officers and Antitrust Authority investigators arrested nine suspects and detained several more for interrogation on suspicion of involvement in the affair.

The officers also searched the homes and offices of suspects and confiscated property, assets and bank accounts.

According to the police, employees from several travel agencies banded together after winning a Ministry of Education tender and coordinated pricing in order to promote their agencies being chosen by schools without allowing for real competition.

The investigation is being overseen by attorneys from the Antitrust Authority’s legal department and the economic department at the State Attorney’s Office.

The suspects are also accused of violating the Antitrust Law, receiving goods fraudulently and offenses relating to the Money Laundering Law. A few of the suspects, according to the police, are also being investigated for taking bribes.

The police says it will ask to extend the remand of some or all of the suspects according to the progress of the investigation.