The Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court ordered Shula Zaken, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's bureauchief, be remanded to police custody for seven days, pending further investigation into her alleged involvement in the Holyland corruption case .
Zaken returned to Israel from the United States on Monday afternoon and was immediately picked up by police for questioning. She was arraigned following a three-hour session and subsequently remanded.
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During the hearing, the police argued that Zaken, who has been a confidante of Olmert's for most of his career, received bribes both for herself and for others, with the funds used to promote various project, such as Holyland.
The police further told the court the Zaken was suspected of receiving a bribe, brokering a bribe, breach of trust, conspiracy to commit a crime and obstruction of justice.
The police believe that Zaken's actions actively contributed to the expansion of the original Holyland project in a way that significantly increased its investors' profits.
Investigators believe that keeping Zaken in custody is imperative to the case, which has already been dubbed one of the most complex and severe in Israel's history.