Ecstasy-smuggling Israeli ex-minister jailed on Iran spying charges
Ecstasy-smuggling Israeli ex-minister jailed on Iran spying charges
Former energy minister Gonen Segev - previously detained on drugs and fraud charges - was handed over to Israel accused of spying for Iran during recent hostilities.
2 min read
Segev pictured at a tribunal in 2004 [Getty]
Gonen Segev, a former Israeli minister for energy and infrastructure, was arrested by the country's Shin Bet intelligence service, who accuse him of spying for Iran and aiding the enemy during wartime, Israeli media reported on Monday.
Segev, a medical doctor who served as minister from 1992 to 1995 in the governments of both Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, served two years behind bars in 2005 for attempting to smuggle more than 30,000 ecstasy pills into Israel from the Netherlands, on top of forging a diplomatic passport.
Segev was reportedly handed over to Israel by the authorities of Equitorial Guinea in May, after Segev attempted to relocate to the African country from Nigeria, where he had resided for several years.
Segev has been in custody since his arrest, however a court order kept the information under wraps.
Equitorial Guinea refused to allow him into the country due to his criminal record. He was subsequently arrested by Shin Bet upon entry to Israel, who have reportedly gathered information on Segev's communication with Iran.
In a statement released on Monday, the intelligence service said the Prosecutor's Office in the Jerusalem District submitted charges against the former politician on Friday accusing him of aiding an enemy country, spying against Israel, and passing multiple messages to an enemy.
According to Shin Bet, Segev himself approached the Nigerian Embassy in Abuja and offered himself up as an agent. He allegedly met with his handlers several times and travelled to Iran twice.
The news came as a shock to many Israelis, however others poked fun at Segev's range of past misdemeanours.
Segev, a medical doctor who served as minister from 1992 to 1995 in the governments of both Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, served two years behind bars in 2005 for attempting to smuggle more than 30,000 ecstasy pills into Israel from the Netherlands, on top of forging a diplomatic passport.
Segev was reportedly handed over to Israel by the authorities of Equitorial Guinea in May, after Segev attempted to relocate to the African country from Nigeria, where he had resided for several years.
Segev has been in custody since his arrest, however a court order kept the information under wraps.
Equitorial Guinea refused to allow him into the country due to his criminal record. He was subsequently arrested by Shin Bet upon entry to Israel, who have reportedly gathered information on Segev's communication with Iran.
In a statement released on Monday, the intelligence service said the Prosecutor's Office in the Jerusalem District submitted charges against the former politician on Friday accusing him of aiding an enemy country, spying against Israel, and passing multiple messages to an enemy.
According to Shin Bet, Segev himself approached the Nigerian Embassy in Abuja and offered himself up as an agent. He allegedly met with his handlers several times and travelled to Iran twice.
The news came as a shock to many Israelis, however others poked fun at Segev's range of past misdemeanours.
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