Beit Shemesh municipality building
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Beit Shemesh municipality officials arrested in corruption probe
10 arrested and another detained for questioning in joint police and Tax Authority investigation into suspicion municipality officials received financial benefits in return for promoting others' interests in the city.
Beit Shemesh municipality officials were among 10 people arrested Sunday morning on suspicions of bribery, fraudulently obtaining benefits, breach of trust and tax offenses, among others.
Police detained an additional person for questioning and searched the suspects' homes and offices.
The suspects allegedly received financial benefits in return for promoting others' interests in the city.
Beit Shemesh municipality building (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Among other things, investigators from the Israel Police and the Tax Authority are looking into the suspicion that public land meant for a religious educational facility was instead used for a residential building.
The suspects will be brought in front of a judge at the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court on Sunday.
The Israel Police said it "will continue to investigate and expose improper actions done in a conflict of interest and to seek and reach anywhere there is suspicion of public corruption that harms local government and citizens."
"As part of the Israel Police's organized campaign against ethical offenses and public corruption, and in light of evidence that has raised suspicions of additional offenses taking place, the National Financial Investigations Unit in Lahav 433 and the Tax Authority launched a joint investigation on Sunday morning, following a long covert investigation," police added.
Police have recently launched corruption investigations in several municipalities, including Jerusalem, Ne'ot Hovav, Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and Rishon LeZion.
In Rishon LeZion, police arrested MK David Bitan (Likud) and Mayor Dov Tzur. Among other things, police is investigating the suspicion that former coalition chairman Bitan borrowed money in the gray market for the municipal soccer team and helped promote land sales for a straw man representing a member of a crime family.
