The Economic Department of the State Attorney’s Office informed Michal Melamed, Deputy Mayor of Rosh Ha’Ain, today (Sunday) that he is being considered for prosecution, subject to a hearing, for bribery. In addition, the department informed other people involved in the same affair, that their prosecution is being considered subject to a hearing for the crimes of bribery, fraud and forgery. One of those involved in giving the bribe to the teacher was notified that his prosecution is being considered subject to a hearing for another incident in which he allegedly received something fraudulently and committed financial crimes.
The investigation file in the case dealt with governmental corruption offenses allegedly committed by the deputy mayor of Rosh Ha’Ein, Michael Melamed; as well as in the crimes of governmental corruption, fraud and forgery allegedly committed by Omer Karmi, a lobbyist, Michael Nidam, who operates a day care center in Jerusalem, and the association “Maorut Zaraho” through which he operated the day care center, and Shlomo Yanai (each according to his part). The letter of suspicion indicates that during 2019-2020, there was a corrupt relationship between Melamed and Carmi, Nidam and the association, in which Melamed took a bribe that was transferred to him from the association and Mindam through Carmi and with Yanai’s assistance in exchange for promoting the association’s cause in tenders for the management of day care centers that were held in Rosh Ha’Ein. It also appears that Carmi, Nidam and the association worked to falsify documents related to the tenders, in order to win them.
In addition, the investigation file deals with fraud and financial crimes allegedly committed by Carmi during 2019-2020 when he provided lobbying consulting services to the Rosh Ha’Ein municipality. The letter of suspicion indicates that Karmi won a fraudulent bid in the bidding process for providing lobbying advice to the municipality. In return for representing the municipality, he received funds and did various actions with them in order to hide and disguise their source.
The case was investigated by the national unit for combating economic crime in Blade 433 of the Israel Police in cooperation with the Office of the Tel Aviv Investigative Assessor at the Tax Authority and accompanied by lawyers from the Economic Department of the State Attorney’s Office.