As part of a large-scale enforcement operation by the Lahav 433 unit in coordination with the Southern District Police and other law enforcement agencies, Omar Zaal al-Aasam, head of the Tel Sheva Local Council, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of serious integrity-related offenses. The arrest follows a covert investigation conducted by the police over recent months, which culminated in an overt wave of arrests involving seven suspects and the detention of six others for questioning. During the operation, forces raided the council offices and conducted searches for evidence related to the financial and administrative management of the authority.
According to allegations arising from the investigation, which is accompanied by the Economic Department of the State Attorney's Office and tax authorities, the suspects operated an extensive network of offenses designed to channel public funds into their private pockets. Among the allegations attributed to senior council officials are bribery, tender rigging, fraud, and breach of trust. Furthermore, there is a substantiated suspicion of fictitious employment within council institutions, with the goal of fraudulently extracting funds from the local authority for the benefit of the suspects and their family members.
In a hearing held at the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court to extend the council head's remand, police presented evidence indicating a high level of severity. Judge Erez Melamed, who presided over the request, noted in his decision that the materials presented reveal a concerning picture of exploiting public office for personal ends. According to the judge, there is a suspicion that the council head and others channeled significant sums from the public treasury, undermining public trust in state institutions. Consequently, the council head's remand was extended for eight days to facilitate further investigation.
Police sources described the activity as part of a broader fight against attempts by criminal elements to infiltrate local authorities in the Bedouin sector and turn them into platforms for criminal activity. The investigation continues in close cooperation with the Tax Authority and the Money Laundering Prohibition Authority, with further investigative steps expected in accordance with developments and the requirements of the case.