Israeli minister's associate detained for graft scandal

A close associate of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was detained Sunday by police for possible involvement in a major corruption scandal, police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.

The individual, whose identity has been concealed, is reportedly a top official of Lieberman's Israel Beytenu party, Xinhua reported.

He is suspected of illegally channelling funds to local authorities and organisations in exchange for bribes and personal benefits, and was detained for questioning, police said.

On Wednesday, more than 30 Israeli officials, many of them affiliated with Israel Beytenu, including deputy interior minister Faina Kirschenbaum and former tourism minister Stas Misezhnikov, were detained for questioning over alleged corruption charges.

Among other suspects are heads of regional councils in Israel, directors of government offices and heads of non-profit organisations.

Police believed the suspects transferred funds to nonprofit organisations and regional councils in order to advance personal interests and launder money through "straw companies."