Arye Deri interrogated by police for eighth time in fraud probe

Interior Minister Arye Deri was questioned on Thursday at the Lahav 433 National Fraud Unit in Lod, for the eighth time, in his corruption probe.

He is suspected of tax offenses, money laundering and breach of trust.

After the session with the investigators, which took more than four hours, Deri said via his Twitter account: “I just finished another [round of] questioning, and as usual I answered every question I was asked.

“Everything is all right now, and will be even more so with the help of God,” he added.

The investigation is being conducted by the police, the Israel Tax Authority and the Israel Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prohibition Authority.

The probe relates to three main issues: The first concerns suspicion of tax offenses, fraud and money laundering in a real estate deal in which Deri allocated a property in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem to his brother Shlomo, who, like the minister, is expected to be indicted.

The second pertains to allegations that the construction of a vacation home owned by the Deri family in the Upper Galilee moshav of Kfar Hoshen, also known as Safsufa, was financed by money that was not reported to the tax authorities.

The third matter concerns the Mifalot Simha NGO, run by Deri’s wife, Yaffa. It is suspected that some of the organization’s money was not raised or used in accordance with tax regulations.