Israel has indicted a former Israeli cabinet minister on suspicion of spying for Iran, Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service said on Monday.

Shin Bet said Gonen Segev, who served as energy minister in the mid-1990s and had been living in Nigeria, “was recruited by Iranian intelligence and served as an agent”. He was arrested during a visit to Equatorial Guinea in May and extradited to Israel, where he was indicted on Friday. – Reuters </s> Israeli former minister of energy and infrastructure, Gonen Segev, who is also a member of parliament, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage activities on behalf of the Iranian intelligence services, the Israeli police said on Monday."Segev was detained for questioning immediately upon his arrival in Israel after the gathered information revealed that. The investigation revealed that he had been recruited and acted as an agent on behalf of Iranian intelligence," the police said on Twitter.The Shin Bet security service said that Gonen Segev was accused of spying for Iran and aiding the enemyAccording to the police, in recent years Segev lived in Nigeria, and in May he traveled to Equatorial Guinea."He was transferred to Israel at the request of the Israeli police after Equatorial Guinea did not allow him to enter its territory due to his criminal past," the police said.The investigation revealed that. The meetings with Iranian agents were held in hotels and apartments around the world, which were "used for secret Iranian activity," the police added.The ex-minister is suspected of providing Iran withSegev was a member of Knesset (parliament) from 1992 to 1996, combining parliamentary activity with the post of the minister of energy and infrastructure. </s> Israel has indicted a former Israeli cabinet minister on suspicion of spying for Iran, Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service said on Monday.

In a statement, the Shin Bet said Gonen Segev, who served as energy minister in the mid-1990s,

Gonen Segev had been living in Nigeria. He was arrested during a visit to Equatorial Guinea in May and extradited to Israel, where he was indicted on Friday.

Ynetnews reported he was charged with espionage, aiding an enemy in wartime, as well as providing information to the enemy.

The former minister and parliamentarian is alleged to have provided details of Israel’s energy industry and security sites in the country, as well as information on political and military officials.

Mr. Segev, who is a trained doctor, served in governments led by Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres in 1995 and 1996.

He was jailed for five years in 2005 for trying to smuggle tens of thousands of ecstasy tablets into Israel from the Netherlands and was released two years later. </s> File Photo: Gonen Segev, a former Israeli cabinet minister indicted on suspicion of spying for Iran, is escorted by prison guards as he arrives to court in Jerusalem, July 5, 2018 REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/ FILE PHOTO

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli former cabinet minister admitting to spying for Iran on Wednesday in a plea deal in exchange for an 11-year prison sentence, the Israeli Justice Ministry said.

Gonen Segev, energy minister from 1995 to 1996, was indicted in June. The Shin Bet internal security service said at the time had been recruited by Iranian intelligence while living in Nigeria and had “served as an agent”.

Investigators found that Segev made contact with officials at the Iranian embassy in Nigeria in 2012 and that he visited Iran twice for meetings with his handlers, the Shin Bet said.

Segev, it said, received an encrypted communications system from Iranian agents and supplied Iran with “information related to the energy sector, security sites in Israel and officials in political and security institutions”.

Israel has long been locked in a shadow war with Iran, which supports Islamist guerrillas in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Iran has accused Israel of being behind acts of sabotage and assassinations of scientists involved in its nuclear program.

The court has yet to formally approve the prison sentence agreed with Segev, a physician, who had been jailed in 2004 for attempting to smuggle “Ecstasy” pills into Israel and left the country in 2007 after his release from prison.

He was arrested in May during a visit to Equatorial Guinea and extradited to Israel, Shin Bet said.

There was no immediate response from Iran to the Justice Ministry statement. </s> Gonen Segev, a former “Israeli” Knesset member and minister, is accused of spying for Iran and aiding it during wartime, the Shin Bet security service said Monday.

On Monday, the Shin Bet security service announced that Segev – the former energy minister who previously served time in jail for drug smuggling – was extradited to “Israel” from Equatorial Guinea and charged with spying for Iran last month.

The physician who served as the apartheid entity’s energy and infrastructure minister from 1992 to 1995, was jailed for five years in 2005 for trying to smuggle more than 30,000 ecstasy tablets into it from the Netherlands and forging a diplomatic passport. He was released in 2007.

According to the so-called “Israel’s” internal security agency and the police discovered that Segev had been recruited by Iran and became an agent for its intelligence services. Segev later met twice with his handlers in Iran.

“Israeli” police said this case is one of the “most severe security breaches it has known.”



Segev sent information to his Iranian sources regarding “Israel’s” energy sector, security sites, structures, and the identity of officials in the security and political establishments in “Israel”, among other things. </s> "Segev was detained for questioning immediately upon his arrival in Israel after the gathered information revealed that he had been in contact with Iranian intelligence services and assisted them in activities against Israel. The investigation revealed that he had been recruited and acted as an agent on behalf of Iranian intelligence," the police said on Twitter.

The Shin Bet security service said that Gonen Segev was accused of spying for Iran and aiding the enemy during wartime.

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According to the police, in recent years Segev lived in Nigeria, and in May he traveled to Equatorial Guinea.

"He was transferred to Israel at the request of the Israeli police after Equatorial Guinea did not allow him to enter its territory due to his criminal past," the police said.

The ex-minister is suspected of providing Iran with information related to the energy market, security sites in Israel, officials in Israeli political and security bodies.

Segev was a member of Knesset (parliament) from 1992 to 1996, combining parliamentary activity with the post of the minister of energy and infrastructure. </s> A former Israeli minister of energy and infrastructure pleaded guilty Wednesday to spying for the Islamic Republic of Iran during multiple meetings with Iranian officials in 2012.

Following an agreement with the Irsaeli Public Prosecutor's office, Gonen Segev, 63, who held office between 1992-95, is set to begin an 11-year sentence. </s> Gonen Segev, energy minister from 1995 to 1996, was indicted in June. The Shin Bet internal security service said at the time had been recruited by Iranian intelligence while living in Nigeria and had “served as an agent”.

Investigators found that Segev made contact with officials at the Iranian embassy in Nigeria in 2012 and that he visited Iran twice for meetings with his handlers, the Shin Bet said.

Segev, it said, received an encrypted communications system from Iranian agents and supplied Iran with “information related to the energy sector, security sites in Israel and officials in political and security institutions”.

Israel has long been locked in a shadow war with Iran, which supports Islamist guerrillas in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Iran has accused Israel of being behind acts of sabotage and assassinations of scientists involved in its nuclear program.

The court has yet to formally approve the prison sentence agreed with Segev, a physician, who had been jailed in 2004 for attempting to smuggle “Ecstasy” pills into Israel and left the country in 2007 after his release from prison.

He was arrested in May during a visit to Equatorial Guinea and extradited to Israel, Shin Bet said.

There was no immediate response from Iran to the Justice Ministry statement. </s> A former Israeli Minister on Wednesday pleaded guilty of spying on behalf of Iran, six months after his arrest, the State Attorney’s Office said.

In an announcement to the Jerusalem District Court, the State Attorney’s office said former minister Gonen Segev, signed a plea bargain, under which he will serve 11 years in jail.

Mr Segev admitted in “serious espionage’’ and “providing information to the enemy,’’ the State Attorney’s office said.

According to Israel’s Shin Bet security service, Mr Segev had met several times with Iranian intelligence officials over the past six years, delivering them information.

In May, Mr Segev was extradited from Equatorial Guinea and arrested in Israel.

Segev, 62, a former parliament member with the right-wing party of Tzomet served as Israel’s minister of energy and infrastructure from 1994 to 1996.

After his political career, he turned to business.

In 2004, he was arrested for attempting to smuggle thousands of ecstasy pills from Amsterdam to Israel.

He admitted guilty amidst a plea bargain and served five years in prison.
Israel charges former energy minister Gonen Segev with spying for Iran. Segev is in custody; he was extradited from Equatorial Guinea.