Ynet reported that the Fraud Investigation Unit arrested the four suspects and detained others for questioning on suspicion of running a criminal network involved in issuing gun licenses to anyone in exchange for a bribe paid to an employee of the Firearms Licensing Department at the Ministry of National Security.
According to estimates, the bribe amounted to a total amount of hundreds of thousands of shekels, in exchange for issuing licenses to those who were excluded according to the criteria for obtaining a firearms license, especially those with a criminal or mental record.
Police said the investigation began weeks ago to investigate suspected crimes and irregularities in the process of granting gun permits by the Department of Homeland Security’s Firearms Licensing Division.
During the investigation, a network was uncovered whose members were suspected of promoting the issuance of licenses to hundreds of gun license applicants, who paid bribes, including those who were not eligible for a license at all because they did not meet the eligibility criteria.
The investigation also revealed that among the licensees who paid bribes, there were license applicants who paid money to members of the network in order to expedite the receipt of their license, and submit their application at the expense of those who applied before them.
Officials investigating the case are seeking to stress that there is no connection between the suspects and officials identified as close to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
According to the investigation, the licensing official who was arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes began issuing licenses in March 2023, before the “large wave of requests” for weapons after October 7. The official knew the other three suspects, who were not employees of the office, and worked with them based on the fact that they lived in the same area.
Source: Ynet
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2024-07-31 00:47:59
