Former MK and Senior Likud Figures Investigated in Tax Evasion Probe by Lahav 433

Lahav 433 revealed on Wednesday that former Likud MK Michael Kleiner, businessman brothers Yaffa and Yitzhak Dayan, and contractor Dudi Apple were investigated for tax evasion involving tens of millions of shekels. The suspects face allegations of concealing ownership rights in real estate assets and smuggling properties. Apple, who has been in bankruptcy proceedings since 2012 and previously served prison time for bribery, is accused of hiding real estate assets worth tens of millions and smuggling properties while under bankruptcy, violating disclosure obligations.

Kleiner is suspected of assisting Apple, while the Dayan brothers allegedly collaborated with Apple in a sophisticated and systematic scheme to hide their rights from authorities and amass large sums. Police stated that following the transition to an open investigation and the suspects’ brief detention, significant assets were seized for potential confiscation. After several hours of questioning, all four were released pending ongoing investigation.

In related developments, another former MK and businessman close to Likud was questioned on similar asset smuggling suspicions. Apple's lawyer, Efraim Damari, described the case as old, investigated about 14 years ago, and questioned why authorities are revisiting it now. The Dayan brothers’ lawyers, Uri Korav and Sivan Russo, defended their clients as law-abiding businessmen, emphasizing the investigation concerns events over a decade old with no evidence of wrongdoing despite years of inquiry.