Jerusalem, 15 September, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli police arrested a lawyer and detained several others on Monday as part of an expanding investigation into alleged corruption at the Ministry of Social Equality and the Advancement of the Status of Women in jerusalem. The probe, conducted by the National Fraud Investigation Unit at Lahav 433, centers on suspicions of fraudulent receipt of funds, misuse of public money for personal purposes, and fictitious employment within the ministry.
The lawyer, who previously served as a parliamentary advisor to Minister May Golan, was taken from his home, and his office was raided. During related searches, authorities discovered a drug lab in the home of a current senior advisor to Golan in Yavne. The advisor’s husband has reportedly assumed responsibility for the laboratory. All suspects were transferred to Lahav 433 headquarters for questioning, and the lawyer is expected to appear later today at Rishon LeZion Magistrate’s Court for an extension of detention.
Minister Golan, who is also expected to be questioned, confirmed she would attend, though she had previously missed a prior summons. The investigation follows months of preliminary inquiry sparked by a News 12 report alleging that Golan, a member of Likud, distributed “jobs” to associates, exploited parliamentary assistants for personal tasks, and misused public funds.
Police allege that employees of the ministry and affiliated individuals used non-profit organizations and government systems to conceal the source of funds and illegally divert money. “The investigation concerns the suspicion that employees… were involved in receiving something fraudulently, using public funds for private needs, fictitious employment, and concealing sources of funding,” Lahav 433 said.
Lahav 433 is often referred to as “Israel’s FBI” because of the national-level crimes it investigates.
Legal advisors to the Prime Minister and the State Attorney’s Office authorized a formal inquiry into Golan two months ago. She faces potential charges including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which carry penalties of three to five years in prison. Police have reportedly obtained recordings in which Golan referred to parliamentary assistants as “a personal assistant who can make all my personal arrangements, everyone, including everyone.”
Golan rejected the allegations, claiming political motivations behind the investigation. “Apart from noise and bells, there is no case here and no offense,” she said, adding that a government legal advisor “is in a conflict of interest and clings to her seat at all costs.” She also wrote on social media that the timing of the probe coincided with other political controversies, dismissing media coverage as “explosive headlines that have nothing behind them.”
The Movement for Quality Government, a watchdog group, called on Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu to dismiss Golan. “No minister should be allowed to continue serving when there are serious suspicions of abusing public office for personal gain,” the movement said, describing the arrests and searches as evidence of the investigation’s seriousness.
Former lawmaker Eitan Cabel commented, “There is a feeling that everything is breaking and falling apart… This is why there is a disconnect between the police and the minister.”
Despite the allegations, Golan remains in her ministerial post, protected by the legal privileges afforded to Israeli government ministers. Authorities plan to continue questioning additional individuals in the coming days.
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