Jerusalem, 10 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Four public employees in the Bat Yam Municipality were arrested on suspicion of receiving bribes and illicit benefits in exchange for allegedly turning a blind eye to illegal construction in the city, said the Israel Police. Bat Yam is located just south of Tel Aviv.
The arrests came following a complaint filed by the Bat Yam Municipality management, which allegedly exposed that several public employees in the municipality were acting contrary to the law by abusing their public authority.
According to the suspicion, building inspectors, instead of taking enforcement measures and fulfilling their duties regarding buildings that may have been unsafe, they “acted in concert with the property owners and allowed them to continue illegal construction without permits, including building violations and significant structural changes. This was done in exchange for receiving cash bribes and illicit benefits, the police alleged.