The Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court on Monday remanded Histadrut labor federation chairman Arnon Bar-David for another three days until Thursday.
He and dozens of other suspects from the Histadrut were arrested last week on suspicion of bribery.
“This is one of the largest bribery cases in the history of the state, involving a labor union that makes any other group pale in comparison – the very same one that set as its primary goal the protection of workers’ rights and their economic advancement,” a representative of the Israel Police said Monday at the court hearing. “Except what actually happened is that its leader, alongside others, used his position of power, influence, and trust granted to him to advance his own interests over theirs.”
Judge Dorit Saban Noy said she was extending his detention out of concern about the possibility of obstruction of justice, particularly tampering with evidence.
The investigation centers on alleged arrangements between Bar-David and insurance agent Ezra Gabay, who allegedly used his close relationship with Bar-David and the union’s power structure to secure large insurance contracts for his firm with employee committees, municipal bodies, and state-owned companies. Bar-David and his associates allegedly facilitated favorable appointments and other perks.
“At first, Bar-David denied any exchange of money between him and Gabay,” the police representative said at the hearing. “However, after he was presented with a recording that painted a different picture, and after requesting to hear it several times, Bar-David mixed up his own answers and in the end admitted that there were cash exchanges between him and Gabay several times.”
Gabay had given a different account of the events, which raised suspicions, the police said.
The police presented to the court a classified document containing additional testimonies that “significantly strengthen the suspicion of [Bar-David’s] involvement” in advancing the interests of Gabay, his associates, as well as tending to different requests by Histadrut members and receiving benefits illegally.
So far, 54 suspects have been interrogated, 74 witnesses have testified
Since last week, 54 suspects have been interrogated, and 117 messages from suspects were investigated by the police. Additionally, 74 witnesses testified and provided 77 additional messages.The police had asked that Bar-David be remanded for another nine days.
“The materials gathered from the evidence [and presented to me] are concerning,” Saban-Noy wrote in her ruling. “The picture that is being painted is that the Histadrut was run like a private business,” where people were appointed and removed from positions at random at the behest of Bar-David, “sometimes while they themselves were unable to understand these proceedings.”
More than 300 individuals are reportedly under investigation, dozens of raids and arrests have taken place, and multiple senior figures in the Histadrut and public institutions have been implicated.