Deri grilled for fifth time amid corruption allegations
Shas Leader Deri interrogated for fifth time by Lahav 433 corruption unit on Monday; Deri, who has already been convicted of bribery, is currently suspected of bribery, tax evasion and illegal involvement in election of local official.
Interior Minister and Shas Leader Aryeh Deri arrived for the fifth time at the Israel Police's Lahav 433 corruption unit's headquarters on Monday for interrogation. Deri, who has already been convicted of bribery charges in the past, is currently suspected of a string offenses, including bribery, tax evasion and illicit involvement in the election of a local religious official.
Police has thus far detained at least 14 suspects related to an undeclared income and assets scandal involving Minister Deri and his wife, Yafa. On a previous occasion, Minister Deri was investigated by the Tax Authority and Lahav unit for a combined 11 hours.
"I have cooperated fully and answered all of the interrogators' questions," Deri said at the time, following the prolonged grilling. "Like I said, I have full faith in the law and enforcement systems and I ask the public to be patient and respect the investigation. With God's help, I will keep serving the public with all my strength."
Two of those detained for questioning included a director-general of a government ministry and a senior businessman. Police are investigating funds being siphoned from the ministry to the Deri family and associates.
Deri and his wife are jointly being investigated as part of a Tax Authority probe into money laundering and false reports about income and assets. Following new findings from the investigation, the Deris may also be investigated for bribery.
The police are also looking into allegations regarding Minister Deri's involvement in the election of a candidate for the Chief Rabbi of Lod, who is affiliated with Georgian billionaire Mikhael Mirilashvili and his son Yitzhak.
After not having a state-appointed chief rabbi for over a year, Lod Mayor Yair Revivo set his sights on appointing Rabbi Meir Biton. However, despite Biton being affiliated with Deri's Shas party and being of Moroccan descent (like Deri), Deri and Shas actively pushed for the election of a Georgian rabbi who is affiliated with Mirilashvili.
Sources within the Lod Municipality have additionally claimed that Deri and his associates put tremendous pressure on Shas representatives within the city to appoint Rabbi Yitzhak Mozgarshvili as the city's chief rabbi.
Suspicions of wrongdoing were raised further after large sums of money were discovered to have been transferred from Mirlashvili and his son to an association headed by Deri's wife.
