The state attorney's office informed Israel Prison Service (IPS) Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi that the attorney-general and state attorney are considering filing criminal charges against him on suspicion of "offenses related to integrity and ethics," a spokesperson from the Justice Ministry confirmed on Sunday.
Filing criminal charges will be subject to a hearing, the statement clarified.
The case is being handled by the state attorney's office's police investigations department, the statement added.
Yaakobi has held several senior positions in the Israel Police and the IPS, including serving as security secretary to the national security minister.
He is suspected of transferring confidential and sensitive information to West Bank Police Unit Commander Chief Superintendent Avishai Moalem concerning an undercover investigation into his activities.
The suspicion is that by informing Moalem about the investigation, Yaakobi granted him the ability to prepare in advance.
Yaakobi claims that he had no knowledge of the existence of a criminal investigation against Moalem, and that the information provided to him concerned only the prevention of his promotion following a polygraph test.
Itamar Ben-Gvir denounces A-G's decision, reaffirms support for Yaakobi
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded to the announcement in a post on X/Twitter on Sunday afternoon.
In his post, Ben-Gvir wrote: "[A-G] Gali Baharav-Miara, on the eve of a hearing that will discuss her dismissal, announced that she has completed the case against Yaakobi, through the police investigations department, her private and political police, and that she will file an indictment against him."
"She is filing this political indictment for one reason; to terrorize officers who implement the policy of the elected echelons, with the aim of politicizing the law enforcement system and pre-service the rule of the Deep State," he added.
"I fully support Yaakobi, who will of course remain in his position, and will continue to perform it as he has until now; with determination, professionalism, without bias, and of course without any extraneous considerations, to the displeasure of the attorney-general and her criminal behavior," he concluded.
Democrats Party head Yair Golan denounced Ben-Gvir and Yaakobi in a post on X.
"A criminal minister who corrupts the entire system beneath him. We will replace them and enforce the rule of law," he wrote.