Senior Population Authority official arrested on suspicion of corruption

Employee and a second man suspected of bribery, fraud, breach of trust following weeks-long undercover investigation

By ToI Staff 19 February 2018, 9:06 am

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Illustrative. A man's hands in handcuffs. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

A senior official at the Interior Ministry’s Population and Immigration Authority was arrested, along with a second individual, on suspicion of bribery, fraud, breach of trust and other crimes, police announced Monday.

The two were arrested on Sunday by investigators from the Israel Police’s Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit. Police said in a statement that the Population Authority employee is suspected of using his position and connections for personal gain.

Police stressed that the arrests were part of the ongoing campaign against offenses related to integrity and public corruption.

The arrests followed a covert investigation by Lahav 433 officers over the past several weeks.

During the arrests, cops also searched the homes and offices of the suspects. The two were set to appear before the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court to be remanded.

“The Israel Police will continue to investigate and expose unlawful processes involving conflicts of interest, and to seek and investigate whenever there is suspicion of public corruption,” police said.