Jerusalem Mayor suspends city fire chief over criminal investigation

By ETGAR LEFKOVITS
Citing basic public values, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has suspended the city's fire chief in the wake of an ongoing criminal investigation against him, involving bribe-taking and fraud, the mayor's spokesman said Sunday. The decision by the mayor to suspend Moshe Suissa until January 24 follows a five-month police investigation involving allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, and will be reviewed after the final decision by the State Attorney's office on whether to press charges against him is made. The decision is one of the first major municipal moves made by Barkat since he took office earlier this month.