Jerusalem-area local council head questioned in public corruption probe

Israel Police’s National Fraud Investigation Unit, Lahav 433, detained a head of a local authority in the Jerusalem area on Monday morning over suspected public corruption. Police said the case moved from a covert probe to an open investigation after intelligence was received, leading to the official’s detention, searches at his home and at the local authority, and the summoning of additional senior officials for questioning.

Investigators suspect the official, who owns several apartments in the community, illegally divided the units into separate dwellings. Another suspicion concerns building violations at a business connected to him. Lahav 433 is also examining whether he blocked the authority’s inspectors from carrying out their duties on property he owns, and whether he obstructed enforcement by the municipality he heads.

According to police, he allegedly tried, directly or indirectly, to bury any initiative by municipal employees to expose his own violations, and professionals were told to “lower profile.” Authorities expect that after questioning he will likely be released under restrictive conditions. Investigators are also expected to take testimony from municipal employees.

The probe is being carried out with other enforcement bodies, including the Civil Administration, the Tax Authority, the Electric Corporation, the Civil Prosecution, and the Israel Land Enforcement Authority. Police said the investigation is still at an early stage and more steps are expected.