MK Haim Biton Investigated for Alleged Misuse of Education Funds for Political Purposes

MK Haim Biton of the Shas party, who previously served as a minister in the Ministry of Education, was questioned under warning on Sunday by the Lahav 433 unit. The investigation centers on suspicions that Biton misused public funds allocated to the 'Bnei Yosef' education network for political purposes, specifically to finance the party-affiliated publication 'HaDerech'.

The probe focuses on the years 2018 to 2021, when Biton was CEO of the Bnei Yosef network. This inquiry is nearing completion and will soon be transferred to the prosecution for further action. Earlier in the investigation, senior figures from both 'HaDerech' and 'Bnei Yosef' were also questioned.

The police stated that the Lahav 433 fraud unit has been conducting a covert investigation for several months into allegations including fraud, breach of trust, false corporate records, and money laundering. The funds originally intended for educational purposes were allegedly diverted to unlawfully finance the publication and distribution of a children's supplement in a privately owned newspaper.