Police Investigate Two Senior Transport Ministry Officials Amid Aviation Security Probe
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israel's Lahav 433 unit is reviewing the activities of two senior Ministry of Transportation officials following the "Fly Dubai" aviation security incident. The probe focuses on potential conflicts of interest and unapproved outside work, with one official reportedly consulting for Fly Dubai while overseeing foreign airline approvals. The other is being examined for a concurrent role and payment without proper civil service authorization. No formal criminal investigation or charges have been filed at this stage.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Police are reviewing two senior Ministry of Transportation officials after the Fly Dubai aviation security incident.
- One official is investigated for a potential conflict of interest involving private consulting for Fly Dubai.
- The second official is examined for holding an unapproved concurrent role and receiving additional payment.
- The review is preliminary, with no formal criminal investigation or charges filed yet.
- The probe focuses on outside work, approvals, and potential conflicts between private and public duties.
Israel's Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit is examining the dealings of two senior officials at the Ministry of Transportation, following the "Fly Dubai" incident concerning aviation security. The investigation is currently a preliminary review, not a formal warning-based inquiry, and no wrongdoing has been determined.
One of the officials, identified as Rubinshtein, provides services to the ministry through outsourcing and manages the aviation security operations center, overseeing foreign airlines and inbound flights. He is being investigated for a potential conflict of interest, as he reportedly provided private consulting and training to foreign airlines, including Fly Dubai and Emirates, and received payment from Fly Dubai. The ministry stated his outside activities were legally approved and conducted outside work hours, but the review will focus on the scope of his approvals and whether those who granted them knew about his private clients.
The second official, Cohen, is under scrutiny for a role he held concurrently since 2018 as an "academic security officer" in the Ofeq aviation security system, for which he received additional payment. Initially, the ministry claimed this was approved by management, but it later emerged that the Civil Service Commission had not approved it and was unaware of it. The ministry clarified that while approval for such outside work for his rank typically requires the commission's authorization, a request was never submitted. Upon learning of this several months ago, current management instructed Cohen to cease the work until official permission was granted.
The police review will concentrate on these additional jobs, the approvals granted, and the potential for conflicts between private activities and official duties in aviation security. The investigation is in its early stages, with the aim of gathering details and examining all relevant contracts and conduct. If criminal suspicions arise, the review could escalate into a formal, warning-based investigation.
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