IDF Warrant Officers Among 21 Arrested in Multimillion-Shekel Fraud Case

New details emerged Tuesday in a multimillion-shekel fraud investigation involving IDF infrastructure work in the Gaza Strip, shedding light on an alleged scheme in which civilian contractors paid bribes to army warrant officers in exchange for approving false reports.

In a joint operation Tuesday morning involving the Southern Economic Enforcement Unit of Lahav 433, the Israel Police's national crime-fighting division, the Military Police and the Tax Authority, 21 suspects were arrested. Five are career IDF warrant officers, while the remaining 16 are civilian contractors. The investigation involves suspicions of fraud, obtaining goods by deception, and giving and receiving bribes.

According to the investigation, contractors who won tenders to carry out engineering work in the area between the border fence and the yellow line in Gaza allegedly submitted inflated reports to the IDF about the scope of their work. Among other things, they are suspected of reporting larger quantities of earth and asphalt than were actually used, as well as work hours that did not reflect the work performed on the ground.

The warrant officers, who were responsible for supervising the work and ensuring its quality, are suspected of knowingly approving the false reports in exchange for payments from the contractors.

Investigators also uncovered suspicions that some contractors took fuel from military refueling sites and falsely reported that it had been used to operate their equipment. These reports were also allegedly approved by the warrant officers in exchange for bribes.

In addition, investigators are examining possible involvement by the suspects in the theft of IDF equipment and the looting of Palestinian equipment in incidents that occurred in Gaza since the infrastructure work began.

The suspects are currently being questioned and providing their accounts of the events. Investigators are expected to confront them with the evidence gathered during the investigation.

The five warrant officers are expected to appear before the military court in Beit Lid on Tuesday afternoon, while the civilian contractors will be brought before the Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court for hearings on requests to extend their detention.