Evidence Mounts for Charges Against Former Acre Mayor

Former Acre Mayor Amichai Ben Shlush is under investigation by Lahav 433 on suspicion of offering benefits and promising public positions to associates in exchange for help in mobilizing supporters during the February 2024 local elections. His former deputy mayor, Itamar Sunino, and numerous other suspects are also being investigated. Police announced that the investigation by the National Fraud Unit has concluded, finding sufficient evidence to file indictments. Ben Shlush faces charges including bribery, election bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He and Sunino were arrested in March 2025, following a covert investigation that began months earlier.

In parallel, in September 2025, former municipal manager Ovad Segav filed a lawsuit against Ben Shlush and the election committee, alleging that Ben Shlush promised benefits, including senior roles like municipal manager and mayoral advisor, to a resident in exchange for acting as a "vote contractor" to recruit voters. Segav's lawsuit also claimed that significant funds were paid in cash to residents to secure their votes for Ben Shlush.

The Haifa District Court invalidated the election results, ruling that there was "undue influence on a significant number of voters, which could have affected the outcome." Ben Shlush appealed to the Supreme Court, but his appeal was rejected. In the repeat elections held in March 2026, he lost to Segav by approximately 60% of the vote.