Following the arrest of 30 suspects on Wednesday 2 Teves, all connected to the ongoing investigation into high-level government corruption, bribery and money laundering, a former cabinet minister has been taken into custody as well.

Among the mayors and a deputy minister whom have been arrested, police from the 433 Lahav Unit have arrested former Minister of Tourism (Yisrael Beitenu) Stav Misezhnikov. The former minister will remain behind bars for nine days as police continue the investigation, which alleges those involved abused their positions to give jobs to loyalists and allocate millions of NIS illegally to NGOs.

At the arraignment hearing for Misezhnikov, Rishon L’Tzion Magistrate Court Justice Menachem Mizrachi complied with a request to keep the suspect behind bars for nine days to permit police to continue moving ahead with the investigation without interference. At the former minister’s side was Deputy Interior Minister Fania Kirschenbaum, of the same party as well as many other suspects. She told reporters that she hasn’t an idea what is going on and denies and connection to any illegal activities. The deputy minister was questioned by police on Wednesday for seven hours.

During his tenure in the 18th Knesset, Misezhnikov was involved in another bribery case as well as coming under harsh public scrutiny for his affinity for imbibing in alcoholic beverages and partying. The media photographed him on more than one occasion in compromised situations unbefitting a cabinet minister.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)