The National Fraud Investigation Unit (Lahav 433) has concluded its investigation regarding the Mayor of Acre, Amichai Ben Shlosh, and other parties involved in an affair that originated from a journalistic investigation. According to police reports published by N12, the suspicions include bribery, election bribery, and fraud and breach of trust. The case has now been transferred to the Haifa District Attorney's Office, which oversaw the investigation, for review and decision. Investigative sources within Lahav 433 stated that sufficient evidentiary infrastructure has been established to support the filing of an indictment against Ben Shlosh.
The investigation, which included both covert and overt stages, raised suspicions that leading up to the local elections, Ben Shlosh and others acted to transfer funds to voters to influence the election results in his favor. Findings indicate that Ben Shlosh and his associates provided various benefits, promised public positions, and pledged rewards in exchange for recruiting supporters. The affair was exposed following the 'HaMevaker' (The Auditor) investigation published in January 2025, which described a secret mechanism for campaign financing and vote-buying. According to the reports, vehicles and drivers were deployed on election day to transport voters to polling stations using unreported cash, coordinated among the participants. The investigation further revealed that some participants expected to receive senior municipal roles, such as CEO or consultant, as part of the compensation for their support. The main hubs of activity noted in the reports were the Old City and other neighborhoods in Acre.
It must be emphasized that these are allegations currently under review by the Prosecutor's Office, and no official indictment detailing full charges has been filed yet. The investigation also concerns the involvement of other figures within the municipality. This represents a significant development for the local government in Acre, given that Ben Shlosh was elected following the long tenure of his predecessor. The public and legal systems are now awaiting the Prosecutor's decision regarding further criminal proceedings in the case.