Senior Police Investigations Prosecutor Requests Transfer Amid Controversy Over Itamar Ben-Gvir Associates Probe

A senior prosecutor at the Police Investigations Department (Mahash), who was overseeing the investigation into associates of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has requested to leave her position and transfer to another role within the State Prosecution. This development was reported on Thursday by ynet. The prosecutor, considered one of the department's top officials and a close aide to outgoing Mahash head Adv. Keren Bar Menachem, had been involved in handling sensitive cases, including the probe into Ben-Gvir's associates. The investigation includes figures such as Deputy Commissioner Avishi Moalem, former commander of the Central District Police (Yam'ar Shai), Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yakobi, Ben-Gvir's chief of staff Hanmal Dorfman, and others.

The prosecutor's transfer request comes while the investigation into Ben-Gvir's associates remains ongoing, and she had been involved from the outset. The State Prosecution clarified that her move was requested before Bar Menachem left her post and is unrelated to any specific case, assuring that the investigation will continue as usual.

The probe began about a year and a half ago, focusing on suspicions that Moalem deliberately avoided arresting far-right activists and leaked classified information to Ben-Gvir's office in exchange for career advancement. Later, allegations surfaced that Yakobi passed sensitive information to Moalem regarding a covert investigation into his alleged efforts to prevent arrests of Jewish terror suspects. In April, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced charges against Yakobi.

Recently, Police Human Resources Chief Alona Shoshan took leave following a complaint that Deputy Commissioner Lior Abudraham, a key witness against Yakobi, sexually harassed her. Shoshan herself was investigated under caution for allegedly attempting to coerce Abudraham into giving false testimony. Abudraham, who testified openly in the case, is set to leave his role as head of the police spokesperson unit and move to another senior police position. He had reported that Yakobi informed Moalem about the investigation against him and had contacted Bar Menachem directly regarding obstruction by officers under investigation.