Channel 1 TV reported Thursday that police have questioned Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai under warning about his role in a widening bribery scandal involving parking favors for Tel Aviv municipal workers.
Huldai is suspected of taking perks and breach of public trust for allegedly taking campaign donations in 1998.
Parking King and the mayor
At the center of the investigation is Huldai’s relationship with Reuven Gruss, known as the Parking King, and of other companies associated with Gruss.
Police say Huldai cooperated fully with the investigation.
In addition to Huldai, several Tel Aviv public workers have been questioned as part of the unfolding story over the past several months.
City Hall: only evidence
Tel Aviv city hall denied the mayor was questioned under warning, and said he only gave testimony in the case.
City spokesman Hillel Partok told Ynet, “three weeks ago the police turned to Mayor Huldai in order to make a time for him to testify.
“A date was set, the mayor showed up and cooperated fully with police. He will continue to cooperate in any way the police require.”
Forbidden relationships
Police say Gruss, who runs many parking lots in Tel Aviv, bribed city officials for information he used to win tenders for lots around town.
Gruss is also suspected of forming forbidden relationships with senior officials in the city’s Beach Holdings company, responsible for operating parking lots and issuing tenders.
Police say city officials may have illegally advanced Gruss’ interests and helped him win city tenders. In all, seven people have been questioned in the affair.
Last summer, Haifa mayor Yona Yahav was investigated in a similar incident.
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