Police complete HaDerech probe involving Shas MK Haim Biton

The suspected offenses included fraud, breach of trust, obtaining something by fraud, theft or fraudulent misappropriation, false entries in corporate documents, and other offenses.

Police have completed an investigation involving Shas MK Haim Biton, who serves as a minister in the Education Ministry, and several other figures over suspicions that public education funds were improperly used to produce a children’s supplement distributed with the privately owned, Shas-affiliated newspaper HaDerech, the force announced Wednesday.

The file was transferred to the State Attorney’s Office’s taxation and economics department for review and a decision on further proceedings.

The investigation examined whether Education Ministry budgets allocated to the Ma’ayan HaHinuch HaTorani education network were used without lawful authorization for the supplement rather than the network’s approved educational activities.

Biton previously served as director-general of the network.

Moshe Avitan, other newspaper officials investigated

The investigation also concerned the network’s procurement director, Moshe Avitan, and other HaDerech officials, according to police.

The probe began covertly before becoming public on March 18, 2025.

The suspected offenses included fraud and breach of trust, obtaining something by fraud, theft or fraudulent misappropriation, false entries in corporate documents, and offenses under anti-money laundering law.