Police said probing whether embattled senior cop tried to promote his relative
Manny Binyamin, who heads the Lahav 433 major crimes unit, is also suspected of interfering in a case his unit was investigating, involving a businessman he was close to
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Deputy Commissioner Manny Binyamin, the embattled head of the Israel Police’s major crime unit, is suspected of trying to promote a relative of his to a senior position, Hebrew media reported Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the Lahav 433 chief was detained for questioning on suspicion he illicitly interfered in an investigation being conducted by his unit, involving a businessman he maintained close ties with.
He was released after his initial interrogation, subject to restrictions including a nine-day ban on entering police facilities and contacting those involved in the case.
Binyamin was then interrogated a second time and swiftly went on temporary leave from his post.
According to several reports, 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 told the Ynet news site that the suspected officer’s chances of returning to his post are very slim. Similar statements were reported by other news sites.
Binyamin is one of the highest-ranking police officers in the country. He has been promoted in rank twice during National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s time in office. He assumed his most recent position, helming Lahav 433, in September 2024.
It is his job to oversee high-profile investigations, many involving politicians and other public figures.
Binyamin’s lawyer, Uri Corb, told The Times of Israel last week that his client “cooperated fully from the first moment and continues to do so,” while denying allegations he illicitly interfered in a case overseen by his unit.
The Times of Israel Community.