New Delhi, June 7 -- The official had, according to Israeli police, a straightforward goal: keep a colleague from being dismissed. What he is suspected of doing to achieve it is why three senior government figures arrived at the headquarters of Lahav 433, Israel's national major crimes unit, for questioning on Sunday.

a ministry director general and two other senior officials from the same unnamed government body - were questioned on suspicion of fraud, breach of trust, abuse of authority, and making threats. No names, no ministry. The statement was a single paragraph.

The public broadcaster Kan filled in a crucial detail that the police withheld. The director general is suspected of illicitly intervening in decisions made by someone cl...