Probe roils empire of Israel’s richest woman

The business empire of Israel’s richest woman has been rattled by a police investigation into her investment group’s director.

Police say the suspicions against Danny Dankner date back to his time as chairman of Israel’s second-largest bank, Bank Hapoalim, which is owned by shipping heiress Shari Arison.

Mr. Dankner was forced to leave Hapoalim in 2009 because of highly unusual pressure from Israel’s central bank.

Police did not detail the suspicions driving the investigation, which featured on the front pages of Israel’s newspapers on Thursday.

The daily Haaretz linked them to alleged conflicts of interest involving bank loans.

Mr. Dankner said in a statement he fully trusts police. Bank Hapoalim said the investigation involved Mr. Dankner, not the bank.