Criminal10/5/2026

Police: Evidence Supports Prosecuting Former Acre Mayor for Vote Buying

Police have completed their investigation into former Acre Mayor Amichai Ben Shalosh, his former deputy Itamar Sonino, and additional suspects. According to police, the evidence collected is sufficient for indictments, but this does not yet establish that the suspects are guilty.

Key facts

•Suspect: former Acre Mayor Amichai Ben Shalosh
•Investigation: Lahav 433
•Local election: February 2024
•Arrests of Ben Shalosh and Sonino: March 2025
•Courts: Haifa District Court; appeal dismissed by the Supreme Court
•Repeat election: March 2026; Ohad Segev received approximately 60% of the votes

What the Former Mayor Is Suspected Of

According to police, Ben Shalosh may have provided benefits and promised public-sector positions to associates in exchange for help recruiting voters in the February 2024 local election. He is suspected of accepting bribes and giving bribes, election bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Former Deputy Mayor Itamar Sonino and several additional suspects were investigated alongside him.

How the Investigation Was Conducted

The investigation was conducted by the National Fraud Investigations Unit of Lahav 433. Ben Shalosh and Sonino were arrested in March 2025 following an undercover investigation that had begun several months earlier. Police announced that the investigation had been completed and that a sufficient evidentiary basis existed, but the source does not state whether indictments were in fact filed.

Why the Election Was Annulled

In September 2025, former municipal director-general Ohad Segev filed a petition against Ben Shalosh, the Election Committee, and the election director. He alleged that an Acre resident had been promised senior positions, including the posts of municipal director-general and adviser to the mayor, in exchange for organizing votes, and that the funds raised were used mainly for cash payments to voters. The Haifa District Court annulled the election results after finding that the totality of the evidence indicated unlawful influence over a significant number of voters in a manner that could have affected the voting results.

The Repeat Vote

Ben Shalosh appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal. In the repeat election in March 2026, he lost to Ohad Segev, who received approximately 60% of residents’ votes. The annulment of the election results and the criminal investigation are separate proceedings with different legal implications.

What this means for you

The decision shows that proven unlawful influence over a significant number of voters may lead to the annulment of local election results and the holding of a repeat vote. At the same time, promising positions, providing benefits, or making financial payments in exchange for support for a candidate may provide grounds for a criminal investigation. The police announcement that a sufficient evidentiary basis exists does not in itself constitute a criminal conviction.

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Case analysis based on court rulings