A top Israeli lawyer has been arrested as part of a probe into claims that judicial appointments were traded for sexual favours, the BBC has reported.

Police said it concerned the appointment of a female magistrates' court judge and promotion of a male judge to a district court, the BBC reports.

The Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has reportedly recused himself because he is a friend of the main suspect.

The Justice Minister and Supreme Court Chief Justice, who are members of the Judicial Appointments Committee, are expected to be summoned to give testimony.

Tip-off

A police statement said that the probe began following a tip-off about judicial appointments.

It is being carried out by anti-corruption unit Lahav 433.

A male lawyer was arrested this morning as part of the inquiry.

Two other suspects – a female magistrates' court judge and a female lawyer – have already been questioned, police say.

Local media have reported that the Jerusalem office of the Israel Bar Association was also raided today.