Husband of Israeli Social Equality Minister’s Advisor Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

Mor Biton, husband of Adi Hodfi-Biton, an advisor to Israeli Social Equality Minister May Golan, was sentenced to 13 months in prison by the Rehovot Magistrate’s Court on Monday. In addition to the prison term, Biton received a suspended sentence and a fine of 12,000 shekels. Judge Keren Wexler declared him a drug dealer following his conviction in a plea deal for cultivating, producing, and preparing dangerous drugs.

Authorities discovered a drug lab with 78 cannabis plants in Biton’s home in Yavne during a raid by investigators from the Lahav 433 unit, which is probing a case involving Minister Golan and several of her associates. Biton and his wife, along with five others close to the minister, were arrested, although Golan herself did not appear for questioning. Biton admitted to the drugs found at his home, claiming he was renovating the locked room where the plants were found as a surprise for his wife, who was unaware of the operation.

The indictment also included possession and use of drugs not for personal use, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Cannabis was found in a Skoda car registered to his wife, which she received from the state, and drug production equipment was found in Biton’s Tesla. Additional drugs including MDMA and hashish were found in various locations in the couple’s home and storage areas, totaling over 1.88 kilograms of cannabis and other substances.

Adi Hodfi-Biton herself is suspected of multiple offenses including fraud, conspiracy, false registration, breach of trust, forgery, and drug offenses related to the cannabis plants. The investigation began over a year ago and also involves allegations of misuse of public funds, fictitious employment, and fraudulent use of government systems within the Ministry of Social Equality. In July, Minister Golan was summoned for questioning under caution on suspicions including bribery and fraud.

Following the arrests and investigation developments, Minister Golan publicly criticized the State Attorney’s Office, dismissing the legal threats and emphasizing her background growing up in South Tel Aviv.