Two more persons were arrested yesterday in the Yadlin scandal. Sara Hary, sister of Asher Yadlin, the former chairman of the Histadrut sick fund, Kupat Holim was taken into custody last night after police questioned her in connection with bribes allegedly received by her brother. Police also detained a prominent Israeli architect, Abba Elchanani, on suspicion that he bribed Yadlin to obtain lucrative contracts from Kupat Holim.
Yadlin was remanded to jail for 15 days last week on charges of accepting bribes, illegal currency transactions and other offenses while head of the sick fund. The Cabinet rescinded his appointment as Governor of the Bank of Israel, a post he would have assumed today. His sister is now believed to have been implicated in receiving and offering bribes.
Elchanani, who has designed major health centers in Israel and abroad, allegedly paid sums to Yadlin for contracts to build sick fund clinics. In one instance, he is alleged to have thrown an expensive party for Yadlin before obtaining a contract for a large planning project. His arrest stunned Israelis because he is currently building two mental institutions and a new hospital for the Health Ministry.
Police, meanwhile, were preparing to ask the courts for an additional 15 days custody of Yadlin and his accountant, Meir Kimche who was also arrested last week.
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