Tax Authority staff detained by Lahav 433 amid corruption and bribery probes

Police reports indicate the detained individuals allegedly approved roughly NIS 80 million in improper tax refunds in return for illicit payments.

ByTZVI JASPER

JULY 20, 2026 08:39

Updated: JULY 20, 2026 09:17

Multiple past and present staff members from Israel's Tax Authority were taken into custody on Monday under suspicion of receiving bribes, according to an announcement from Israel Police.

Officers from the Lahav 433 unit executed four detentions at the homes and workplaces of those under investigation.

Authorities stated that the individuals are believed to have issued approximately NIS 80 million in unauthorized tax refunds in exchange for the bribes received.

Three of those detained were former employees, while the fourth was still active as an assessment team coordinator in Petah Tikva when taken into custody.

Lahav 433 interrogates Shas MK regarding alleged misconduct

During the previous week, Shas MK Haim Biton underwent questioning by Lahav 433 as part of additional inquiries into claims of improper conduct and the diversion of public resources to support a haredi newspaper.

He faces allegations of channeling money from the Ma'ayan HaChinuch HaTorani education network to back a privately run Shas-linked publication during his tenure as the network's director general roughly seven years earlier.

Lahav 433 has overseen the matter for the past year, with plans to forward it shortly to the state attorney and attorney general to determine whether charges will be brought.

Efrat Forsher contributed to this report.