15 employees including workers' leaders are under investigation for corruption.
This morning, after a covert investigation lasting about a year, investigators from the Israel Police and the Israel Tax Authority detained for questioning 15 employees of Ashdod Port, among them workers' leaders well known to the public. The The Israel Money Laundering and Terror Financing Prohibition Authority is also involved in the investigation. Police raided the homes of some of the workers, as well as Ashdod Port premises. The alleged crimes being investigated include bribery, extortion with threats, and fixing of tenders at the port.
The suspicion is that the workers exploited their standing to promote the interests at the port of private companies owned by their families. They are alleged to have pressured companies operating in the port to hire the services of the family companies, in return for bribes and benefits in kind from the latter companies.
The suspects have been taken for questioning to Lod, and will face hearings on the extension of their remand later today.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 27, 2014
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