One of the 17 public officials arrested or detained for questioning by police on Sunday, 15 Kislev, was Coalition Chairman MK (Likud) David Bitan. Bitan was among others questioned as an undercover investigation into corruption in Rishon L’Tzion went public with the arrests. Bitan was questioned by police pertaining to the time period he served as head of Rishon’s Building & Planning Committee.

Bitan was questioned ‘under caution’, suggesting police have gathered sufficient evidence to move ahead with a criminal indictment. He is suspected of fixing municipal construction tenders and other illegal activities, assisting criminal elements to earn money to extricate himself from debts. It appears police have been checking into Bitan’s finances and how he has been able to pay off debts.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)