Former high officials detained in Israel’s submarine scandal

DEBKAfile was founded by a team of journalists in June 2000 as an independent Internet Web site, providing an intelligence and security news service. September 5, 2017, 10:10 AM (IDT)

More suspects have been detained in a corruption scandal centering on Israel’s purchase of submarines from a German shipyard starting a decade ago. Monday, a former cabinet minister (2003-2004), Eliezer Sandberg, was remanded for two days by the Rishon Letzion Magistrate’s Court on suspicion of brokering a bribe to a public servant, fraud and breach of trust. Former Dep. National Security Adviser Avriel Bar-Yosef and Rami Taibm media adviser to Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, were also questioned. The minister, who is not suspected of any wrongdoing, confessed himself “stunned” by the ongoing investigation. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s former bureau chief, David Sharan, was arrested Sunday as a suspect in the same graft investigation. The prime minister is not a suspect in this affair, but may be asked for evidence at some point..
This round of arrests followed the leading suspect Michael Ganor turning state witness.
 

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