Police raid home of ex-MK as corruption scandal probe expands
Police chief says there are 6 state witnesses in investigation, confirms officials from other parties were also involved in the corruption scandal.
Police raided the home of former MK and deputy interior minister Faina Kirschenbaum on Sunday, as part of an investigation into a large corruption case involving numerous Israeli officials and politicians, many of them from Yisrael Beytenu.
Kirschenbaum, who served as the secretary general of the rightwing Yisrael Beytenu party, is said to be in the heart of the scandal.
Police announced Saturday they now have six state witnesses in the investigation. Reports said that a number of currently serving Knesset members are involved.
Kirschenbaum is suspected of accepting money for political benefits she gave in her official capacities. According to the allegations, the money was not deposited into her personal accounts, but rather as salaries for associates and relatives (apart from the appointment of her daughter to the Beef Cattle Growers Association, which is under investigation).
"I don't remember of any case with six state witnesses," Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino said Saturday, explaining the investigation would be completed by the end of the month.
"We have discovered many allegations regarding corruption and stealing public funds," the police chief said. "Suspicions are not confined just to Yisrael Beytenu," he said, confirming rumors that officials from other parties were also involved in the scandal.
"This is not the Yisrael Beytenu case, but case 242," he said referencing the internal police investigation number.
The modus operandi of the alleged scheme was as follows: a certain organization received a budget plus a bonus amount, with the understanding that the extra funds would either be returned to those pulling the strings or paid as compensation for appointing associates to certain positions. Numerous organizations came to understand that they had to provide kickbacks in exchange for a budget.
