Several former and current employees of the Israel Tax Authority were arrested on Monday on suspicion of accepting bribes, the Israel Police reported.
Officers from Lahav 433 – The National Crime Unit Lahav arrested four suspects at their homes or offices.
According to the charges, the suspects had granted a total reduction of about NIS 80 million on money owed in tax returns to receive the bribes, the police said.
At the time of their arrest, three of the suspects were former employees, while one was working for the ITA in Petah Tikva.
Lahav 433 questions Shas MK for misconduct
Last week, Minister in the Education Ministry Haim Biton (Shas) was questioned by Lahav 433 as part of an investigation into misconduct and use of public funds to finance a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) newspaper.
He is suspected of using funds from the Ma’ayan HaChinuch HaTorani education network to finance a private Shas-affiliated newspaper while serving as the network’s director-general about seven years ago.
The case has been handled by Lahav 443 over the past year and is expected to be transferred soon to the State Attorney’s Office and the Attorney-General’s Office to determine whether to file an indictment.
Efrat Forsher contributed to this report.