The Fraud Investigation Unit at Lahav 433 (Major Crimes Unit) completed the investigation, which focused on Rabbi Aryeh Cohen, the former deputy mayor of Rishon L’Tzion and responsible for the city’s Chareidi Education portfolio, on suspicion of committing offenses in the field of integrity and other crimes.

In the course of the investigation, dozens of people were questioned, some of them in a warning, including Aryeh Cohen.

According to the suspicions, Rabbi Aryeh Cohen, as head of the city’s chareidi culture department, approved invitations to produce cultural events and presented invoices to the Rishon L’Tzion Municipality in amounts higher than those actually issued.

It is suspected that the value of the offense is estimated at hundreds of thousands of shekels.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigation unit believes that a prima facie evidentiary infrastructure has been formed against Aryeh Cohen, Meir Akiva and others, each according to his share – to establish suspicion of involvement in offenses under aggravated circumstances, fraud and breach of trust, theft by a public servant and false registration of corporate documents.

The investigation file was transferred to the State Attorney’s Office for review and decision.

According to the 10 News report, Rabbi Cohen is competing for the position of Chief Sephardi Rabbi of Rishon L’Tzion.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)