Former senior Tax Authority officials among 11 suspects in NIS 80 million fraud probe

Jerusalem Post/Israel News/Crime in IsraelDuring the investigation, conducted both undercover and in the open, the unit found evidence that a deputy tax assessor and a former senior Tax Authority coordinator took bribes for several years.Follow us on GoogleAn Israel Police officer standing outside the headquarters of Lahav 433 - The National Crime Unit; illustrative.(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)OCTOBER 26, 2026 18:47Lahav 433, the Israel Police’s elite investigations unit, recently wrapped up a complex investigation by its National Fraud Investigation Unit and the Tax Assessor’s Office. The probe examined suspected bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering and targeted 11 suspects, including former senior officials at the Israel Tax Authority.During the investigation, conducted both undercover and in the open, the unit found evidence that a deputy tax assessor and a former senior Tax Authority coordinator took bribes for several years from a certified public accountant (CPA) who represented taxpayers. Together, they allegedly defrauded the state of more than NIS 80 million (nearly USD 30 million).Prosecutors specializing in tax and economic crimes oversaw the case from the start. On Monday, they transferred the case, along with the investigators’ recommendations, to the State Attorney's Office to decide whether to file indictments.MK May Golan questioned for 10 hours over allegations of stealing thousands from charitiesDuring a different incident on Thursday, MK May Golan was questioned by police for 10 hours on Thursday over allegations that she pocketed donations intended for a nonprofit she founded.During questioning at Lahav 433, Israel Police’s national crime investigation unit, Golan denied the allegations and said she had documents showing where the money had gone. When investigators cited evidence provided by employees in her ministry, she asked to hear the recordings herself.Israel Tax Authority, Israel Land Authority, Bank of Israel. (credit: FLASH90)One part of the investigation focuses on whether Golan used funds from the nonprofit she founded and managed for personal expenses. Investigators told her they had a witness who alleged she took about $22,000 in donations for herself.Nationwide wave of arrests executed in crackdown on multi-million-shekel military machinery schemeAuthorities have been operating against fraud cases during the last week, with one of the latest cases being the one where 21 suspects were arrested, including soldiers, in a multi-million-dollar fraud crackdown on October 20.An investigation, conducted by the National Economic Crime Unit (YALAK) of Lahav 433 in cooperation with the Military Police, as well as the Tax Authority, uncovered a scheme in which heavy machine contractors teamed up with IDF soldiers to inflate reports, forge hours, and report fictitious activity for heavy machinery operation in the Gaza Strip throughout the Swords of Iron campaign.The investigation culminated in a nationwide wave of arrests, with individuals being detained on suspicion of obtaining goods by deceit, bribery, and money laundering. In the course of the operations, it is suspected that fraud on the scale of millions of shekels was committed.Hodaya Ran and Jonah Davidov contributed to this report.Follow us on Google