(haipo) - 18 heads of councils and public figures from localities in the north, including Osafia, are now being brought in for questioning, when at the end of a year-long undercover investigation, it was suspected that they were involved in bribery, money laundering, fraud and tax crimes.
The National Fraud Investigations Unit (NAU) in Blade 433 arrested and detained for questioning this morning (Monday 1/5/23) four heads of local councils, public servants and others involved, on suspicion of committing crimes of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, money laundering and tax crimes.
Allegedly, the owner of a garbage removal company in the north of the country, who bribed the heads of councils in the Arab sector and other public servants, in exchange for his winnings and an increase in the garbage removal tenders he won.
The undercover investigation at the IHA began about a year ago, during which the suspicions against the suspects, who were arrested this morning for questioning, were strengthened.
From the investigation so far, it has emerged that between the main suspect - the owner of a garbage removal company and the heads of the councils - there was a corrupt relationship, which was based on the advancement of personal and business interests, while public servants and other suspects helped realize that corrupt relationship.
With the transition to an open investigation, 18 suspects were arrested and detained for questioning, including, as mentioned, heads of councils, public servants and other suspects from Asfia, Kfar Manda, Rayna, Abu Sanan and more.
During the searches, they were caught in the houses of the suspects, in the various councils and other offices; Vehicles, garbage truck, checks, cash, jewelry and relevant documents.
The investigation was accompanied from the beginning by the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office (Taxation and Economy) with the assistance of the Tax Authority and the Authority for the Prohibition of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Ministry of Justice.
At this time, the suspects are being brought for questioning at the unit's offices, at the end of which, and in accordance with its findings, they will be brought to discuss the extension of their detention at the Peace Court in Israel.
The head of the Asafia council issued a message to the residents - this one is different:
Dear Asafia residents and council employees,
We were informed this morning that the head of the council was detained for questioning on suspicion of a number of offenses, apparently.
We hope that the police will do their job faithfully and come to the truth.
I believe the truth is that the head of the council is clean and an honest man, as we know him.
As acting head of the council, I announce that the council will continue to provide service to the residents of the village and will continue to function as usual and we hope that the head of the council will return to his place among us, as quickly as possible.
Ms. Asafia, the head of the local council,
Job is burnt