State Employee and Contractors Arrested in Bribery Scheme Over Illegal Foreign Workers
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
An Israeli state employee and contractors were arrested on suspicion of bribery related to the illegal employment of foreign workers. The state employee allegedly accepted bribes totaling NIS 200 million to ignore construction sites employing undocumented Turkish workers and suspected smuggling operations. Three suspects were arrested and two detained, with hearings for detention extensions set for Wednesday.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A state employee and contractors were arrested for allegedly accepting NIS 200 million in bribes.
- The bribes were reportedly paid to overlook illegal foreign workers at construction sites.
- The scheme involved Turkish workers present in Israel without legal permits.
- Contractors are also suspected of smuggling foreign workers via Jordan.
- Minister Mai Golan was questioned by investigators as part of the probe.
An Israeli state employee and several contractors have been arrested on suspicion of bribery, involving a scheme to overlook the employment of foreign workers in Israel without proper permits. The investigation, conducted by Lahav 433's special investigations unit, revealed that the state employee allegedly colluded with contractors who hired Turkish workers present in the country illegally.
Investigators suspect that the contractors paid bribes to the state employee to avoid oversight at construction sites where these undocumented foreign workers were employed. It is believed that some of the bribe money originated from the foreign workers themselves. The total sum involved in the bribery offenses is estimated to be NIS 200 million. Additionally, the contractors are suspected of smuggling foreign workers into Israel via Jordan for a fee.
The investigation, which began covertly, became public on Wednesday with the arrest of three suspects and the detention of two others. The main suspects are scheduled to appear in the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court later today for a hearing on extending their detention. Minister Mai Golan was questioned at Lahav 433 offices as part of the ongoing investigation.
