A close confidante of Interior Minister MK Aryeh Deri (Shas) has been called in for interrogation Tuesday, under suspicion of being involved with his most recent corruption scandal.
Channel 10 reports that, among others, Deri's real estate agent is under investigation.
While official records published on the eve of the 2015 elections show that the Deri family owns one apartment in Jerusalem, dating back to the 1990s, an independent investigation by the news channel claims that his family actually owns up to nine properties, both in the capital and in Tel Aviv.
Among the properties is allegedly a vacation home in the Safsufa moshav, which includes its own vineyard, two ponds, and sits on multiple acres of land. Its worth is estimated at some 2.5 million shekel ($663,896). Neighbors say the minister and his family visit the home once per month, usually for special occasions.
Deri was infamously convicted of taking $155,000 in bribes in 2000, during his previous stint as Interior Minister. He was sentenced to three years in prison, but was released for good behavior after 22 months.