Top National Security Council official suspected of corruption

Latest: Corruption and Money Laundering.

Official is suspected of bribery, money laundering, fraud, and breach of trust, placed under five-day house arrest • Suspect, who denies any wrongdoing, allegedly used his position to promote an acquaintance's business interests concerning natural gas.

Itsik Saban.

The Police Major Crimes Unit building in central Israel 

|

 Photo credit: Gideon Markowicz

A top National Security Council official was questioned by the Police Major Crimes Unit Tuesday on suspicion of corruption.

The official, whose identity has been placed under a gag order, is suspected of bribery, money laundering, fraud, and breach of trust. Once questioned, the official was placed under a five-day house arrest, after which he will be subjected to a series of police restrictions.

One woman, considered a person of interest in the case, was questioned by police as well and later released on her own recognizance..

According to available details, the official was questioned following a covers investigation into the suspicions against him and his alleged accomplice. Both suspects' homes were searched earlier this week, the police said.

A police source privy to the investigation said the NSC official allegedly used his position to promote the interest of an acquaintance -- a German businessman -- without reporting the potential conflict of interests and in exchange for payments made directly to him, as well as to several members of his family.

It is believe the business interests in question are linked to Israel's natural gas industry, which the NSC official promoted while the government was debating the natural gas framework.

The official in question was short-listed for a highly sensitive security position, and the appointment has been suspended pending the conclusion of the police investigation.

One of the official's associates told Israel Hayom that "he has been wronged. The truth will come out and it will show he has done nothing wrong."

Attorney Jack Chen, who represents the suspect, said his client was lending police his full cooperation. "This issue has been made public by interested parties. I'm sure the investigation will clear my client of any wrongdoing," he said.

A statement by the Ometz Association -- Citizens for Good Governance and Social Justice, said: "We believe law enforcement will know how to exhaust this process. We hope such revelations will deter other senior officials in the civil service, making it clear to them that they face constant scrutiny, and that as public servants they are expected not to betray their positions over greed."