Former and Current Israeli Tax Authority Employees Arrested for Years-Long Bribery Scheme

Several former and current employees of the Israeli Tax Authority were arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of accepting bribes. According to a joint statement from the police and the Tax Authority spokespersons, the suspects allegedly allowed the submission of false tax refund claims totaling approximately 80 million shekels in exchange for bribes over several years. The investigation was conducted covertly by the National Fraud Investigations Unit in Lahav 433, in collaboration with tax assessors from the Tax Authority. On Monday morning, the investigation became public, and police raided the homes and offices of the suspects. Some of the detainees are expected to appear later in the day at the Ramla Magistrate's Court for a hearing to extend their detention.