Israel Jerusalem
23 November 2020
Rishon Lezion Magistrates’ Court remands current Or Aqiva Mayor and former minister Yaakov Edri for six more days, hits him with charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Another 12 people who are also suspected of criminal acts of corruption were arrested along with Edri. Among those arrested are the former director general of a government ministry, city employees and a businessman.
Police investigators searched the suspects’ offices and confiscated documents and computers. The police accused Edri of accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust, conspiracy, money laundering, tax offences and other crimes. The businessman who was arrested along with him was known to have bribed Edri for preferential treatment in bidding processes.
Judge Avnon said that findings seized, combined with the suspect’s statements during his interrogation, at least reinforce some of the suspicions attributed to him.
Edri was formerly a Knesset member on behalf of the Likud party and a minister in the Israeli government on behalf of the Kadima party. As a minister he held 4 portfolios from 2006 to 2008. He has been the mayor of Or Akiva for seven years.
RiskScreen reported.
