Expectations of Filing Indictment Against Ali Salam in Criminal Gang's Control of Nazareth Municipality

SadaNews - It is expected that the public prosecution will file an indictment against the former mayor of Nazareth, Ali Salam, as part of the ongoing investigations into suspicions about the control of a criminal gang over various aspects of the municipality's work.

Salam has been in custody for over 85 days, following a case that the Israeli occupation police named "The Maze of Money," which addresses suspicions of widespread financial corruption within the municipality.

These developments are part of a large investigation file involving current and former employees and officials at the Nazareth municipality, alongside the activities of a criminal gang suspected of operating in the area and exploiting its influence to affect decisions and procedures within the municipality.

According to the suspicions presented by the police before the court, large sums of money were transferred to elements within the criminal gang, which allegedly caused severe damage to the municipality's financial situation, which already suffers from debts estimated at around 300 million shekels.

The Supreme Court had recently approved the police's request to extend the detention of Ali Salam and Samir Bkri, along with three other suspects, for an additional eight days, bringing the total days of detention to approximately 85 days.

The police stated that the court's decision came amid what it described as a "notable advancement in the investigation's proceedings," referring to the revelation of additional serious suspicions related to extortion crimes under threat ("protection money"), suspected to be linked to a criminal gang led by Bkri.

The police also reported that investigation units achieved a "significant breakthrough" in the case, following the recruitment of a "king witness" alongside several other witnesses who provided testimonies and information described as extensive and in-depth regarding the criminal activities attributed to the gang and its affiliates.

As of now, no detailed official responses have been issued by the defense team regarding the totality of the suspicions, while it is expected that the picture of the charges will become clear if an official indictment is submitted to the competent court.