It is now permitted to report that persons close to Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul are among those arrested on suspicion of election fraud. Also arrested was a son of a Yahadut Hatorah MK (name on file). There is a gag order on most of the details surrounding the ongoing investigation.
A total of nine suspects were arrested and questioned under warning, which indicates a criminal indictment is likely. Yeshaya B. (name on file) a resident of Beit Shemesh appears to have organized the fraudulent identity cards. Walla News reports that persons close to Mayor Abutbul appear to have played a major role in gathering the fraudulent identity cards towards influencing the outcome of the election.
As the Israel Police Yahav 433 unit continues the investigation, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there was foul play in the election and realizing the mayor only won by 924 votes leads many to believe that there will be court intervention or new elections.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Other sources say the cards weren’t fake rather, they belonged to people who were not going to vote for one reason or another.
Also, it was 160 cards, not 200, of which 30 were used to vote with.
So, if there would be a re-vote, Abutbol probably win again. This time by more than a thousand (924+130).