Suspected Corruption: Religious Services Ministry Director General Questioned Under Caution by Lahav 433

Another corruption case, following a News 13 investigation that was broadcast about a year ago on the main evening edition, the Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, Yehuda Avidan, and two other senior officials are being questioned under caution today, Sunday, at the police’s Lahav 433 headquarters, on suspicion of fraud and breach of trust, misuse of office, and threats. The jobs and the threatening recordings: how “the chief of staff of Shas” operates.

According to the suspicion, Avidan, the powerful figure in the Shas party and the man who has been whispering in the ear of party chairman Aryeh Deri for years, tried to intervene in decisions made by an official connected to the ministry for improper reasons, and also to prevent the justified dismissal of a person close to him. Attorney Ofer Bartal of the Bartal-Cohen law firm said on behalf of Mr. Avidan: “He was questioned today on suspicion of breach of trust. The suspicion stems from a claim by the head of a religious council, according to which he forbade him from firing one of his employees because he is a Shas member. The truth is that Mr. Avidan demanded that the head of the religious council hold a lawful hearing for the employee and not fire him unlawfully. The hearing was canceled and the employee was returned to work, until he was later dismissed after a hearing was held as required. Mr. Avidan will continue to instruct all employees under him to act according to the law בלבד. We are confident that the case will be closed once all the facts are clarified.”

Attorney Tamar Baum, head of the municipal department in the Movement for Quality Government, said: “The writing was on the wall. We warned in real time, but the Ministry of Religious Services and the Attorney General’s Office chose not to listen. In a proper state, oversight powers of a government ministry cannot be used as a political pressure tool or as a means to protect associates. Now a full, transparent, and swift review is needed, not only of the criminal suspicions, but also of all the decisions on which we appealed and were told that everything was done legally.”

A News 13 investigation broadcast about a year ago in the main evening edition exposed the “Avidan method”, jobs being arranged and fear being instilled in anyone who dared not fall in line with his wishes. About six months after the investigation aired, police opened a review following the suspicions that arose.