By Meir Turgeman

Copyright ynetnews

Police raided the Jerusalem offices of May Golan, minister for Social Equality and Women’s Empowerment, on Monday morning as part of the so-called “cash bonanza” affair, a corruption probe into the alleged misuse of public funds within her ministry. The investigation began more than six months ago. In July, Golan was questioned under caution. With the case moving into an open investigation, the police’s Lahav 433 anti-fraud unit arrested an attorney who had worked for Golan and detained several other suspects, conducting searches at their homes. Golan is expected to be summoned for further questioning later this week. “All of the suspects were brought in for questioning at Lahav 433 headquarters. The attorney will later be brought before the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court for a hearing on extending his detention,” police said. According to police, officials at the Ministry for Social Equality allegedly collaborated with outside partners to funnel public funds through nonprofit organizations and government frameworks. The suspicions include fraud, fictitious employment, concealment of funding sources, and use of public money for personal purposes. During a search at the home of one of Golan’s aides in Yavne on Monday morning, police discovered a cannabis grow operation with marijuana plants inside a designated room. The aide was detained for questioning, and her husband, who reportedly took responsibility for the grow operation, was placed under arrest. The case follows a months-long probe that included a television exposé, which alleged that Golan appointed individuals to fictitious positions in exchange for donations to an NGO she ran, misused public funds, and failed to disclose sources of campaign or organizational financing. One of those arrested Monday is an attorney who had once worked at a post office in Petah Tikva before switching careers. He opened a small law firm in Ashdod and later became a junior parliamentary aide to Golan. He also served on the board of her NGO and allegedly provided legal services that were never followed by any formal legal action, despite being paid from public funds. According to the report, his wife, a former municipal clerk who opened a dog grooming business, was also listed as a paid staffer in Golan’s ministry, although she appeared to have performed no official duties. Roughly two months ago, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Isman authorized police to question Golan under caution over suspicions of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and filing a false affidavit. The decision followed a Channel 12 investigation that raised concerns about how Golan ran her ministry, including evidence suggesting she continued to manage her nonprofit, “Hebrew City,” after entering the Knesset, in violation of laws governing public officials. According to a former aide quoted in the exposé, Golan was abusive toward staff and allegedly expected personal errands to be performed by her assistants, stating: “A personal assistant can handle all of my personal arrangements—every last one of them. That’s what all MKs do.” Golan has denied the allegations.