Senior Israeli Prison Service Officer Alleges Corruption and Retaliation After Procurement Complaint

A senior officer in the elite "Metzada" unit of the Israeli Prison Service (IPS), serving for 17 years, claims he faced retaliation after raising concerns about alleged procurement irregularities. The officer, responsible for developing combat equipment, reported issues with a tender involving a course for Metzada fighters, highlighting that the chosen institution, "Ta'as" College, was about 44% more expensive than another bidder. He alleges the selection process lacked transparency and that his attempts to investigate were blocked by his superiors.

Following his complaints, the officer says he was subjected to various retaliatory measures, including being removed from his position without consent, isolation from colleagues, confiscation of his long weapon without explanation, and removal of security cameras outside his office. He also claims that fellow officers were instructed to avoid contact with him and that he was threatened by command staff. A meeting with the head of the IPS operations division reportedly ended with a recommendation that he leave the unit, despite the other parties involved continuing to serve.

The officer, through his legal counsel, has petitioned the State Comptroller to investigate the procurement process and the alleged retaliation, seeking recognition as a whistleblower and protection under the law. However, he was informed that without an active State Comptroller, no protection can currently be granted. Concurrently, he filed an administrative petition against the IPS to prevent his transfer from the role. The IPS stated it has not yet received the petition but will respond through appropriate legal channels if it does.

This case was simultaneously reported by ynet and i24NEWS on Sunday evening, highlighting concerns about integrity within the IPS and the treatment of whistleblowers in sensitive security units.