6 detained in submarine corruption case

A corruption case involving bribes and a German submarine results in several detentions.

Police on Monday detained six suspects for questioning in connection with an alleged corruption case that is rocking the foundations of Israel’s democracy. The six are suspected of receiving bribes, money laundering, tax evasion and fraud.

Some of the suspects were described as civil servants, while others were said to have connections to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The case, dubbed Case 3000, alleges that leading Israeli officials received bribes in exchange for their promotion of the acquisition of a Dolphin-class submarine for Israel’s navy from the German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp.

Officials close to Netanyahu are suspected of using their ties to promote the deal, against the objections of Israel’s defense establishment and against the essential needs of the country.

ThyssenKrupp has been accused of bribing officials around the world to promote sales of its submarines.

Netanyahu is currently not a suspect in this case.

However, he is still contending with Cases 1000 and 2000.

Case 1000 centers on allegations that the Netanyahu family received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cigars, champagne and other expensive gifts from rich supporters, possibly in exchange for favors from Netanyahu.

Case 2000 involves Netanyahu and Yediot Aharonoth owner Noni Moses, who allegedly made a pact in which Netanyahu proposed to use his power to weaken Yedioth’s main rival, Israel Hayom, through the passage of a law curbing Israel Hayom’s distribution, in return for Yedioth’s reduction of negative coverage of Netanyahu’s government.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and calls the allegations a witch hunt by a “hostile media” against him and his family.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

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