‘Top aide’ to PM questioned for fraud, breach of trust
Suspect said to have advanced interests of firm owned by a relative; her husband reportedly runs a large PR firm that works with politicians
An employee at the Prime Minister’s Office was questioned by the police on Wednesday on allegations of fraud and breach of trust. The interrogation, at the offices of the Israel Police’s Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit, lasted for eight hours.
The employee, who is said to be a confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allegedly used her position to advance the interests of businesses owned by a relative, who was also interrogated.
Officers also searched the suspects’ homes, and the relative’s office, and seized computers and documents.
The two suspects were released on bail and barred from contacting anybody allegedly involved in the affair. A spokesman for the suspect denied any wrongdoing.
The suspect was said by The Marker, a Hebrew financial daily, to be one of the “most powerful women in Likud” and one of the “few top-tier female officials in the prime minister’s inner circle.”
The newspaper added that the suspect is one of a small team of advisers who delineate strategy at the PMO. Her responsibilities reportedly include ties between the PMO and the Knesset.
The report in The Marker said the suspect’s husband owned a public relations firm representing politicians from Netanyahu’s Likud party.
The PR firm’s other clients reportedly include Israel Hayom (a free Hebrew daily newspaper funded by US billionaire and Netanyahu backer Sheldon Adelson) and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. The husband has also acted as an adviser to Immigration Absorption Minister Ze’ev Elkin and to former minister Gideon Sa’ar.