Israeli-American billionaire Shari Arison was questioned by the Israel Police's Major Crimes Unit for nine hours on Sunday in connection with an ongoing bribery investigation into the country's largest construction firm, Shikun & Binui.
The Arison Group completed the sale of its 47.5% stake in Shikun & Binui to U.S.-Israeli businessman Naty Saidoff last week for 1.1 billion shekels ($296 million).
The Arison Group said in a statement Sunday that Arison and another Arison Group executive, Efrat Peled, were summoned by the police.
"They cooperated fully and are confident that there was no flaw in their conduct, and that this will also be the conclusion of law enforcement authorities," the statement said.
"The Arison Group has zero tolerance for any inappropriate conduct. The group worked, works and will work to set high ethical standards in all its activities and fields of investment in Israel and around the world – and will continue to do business with added value for the benefit of the economy, society and the environment."
Shikun & Binui said in February that four current and former employees of a foreign subsidiary had been detained for questioning by police on suspicion of bribery in Africa.
The company said the subsidiary was conducting its own examination using an independent firm from abroad, and it was not yet able to assess the accuracy of the allegations.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the Israel Police and the Israel Securities Authority said their investigation was focusing on suspicions that the company bribed foreign government officials to advance projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Kenya and other countries.
The statement said the Israeli authorities were working with foreign law enforcement agencies.
Shari Arison and her brother, Micky Arison, inherited billions of dollars from their father, Ted Arison, who founded Carnival Corp., the world's biggest cruise ship operator. Through the Arison Group, she controls Bank Hapoalim, Israel's biggest bank.
