The Jerusalem Prosecutor’s Office this morning filed an indictment with the Jerusalem Magistrates Court against Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi (Kadima) over political appointments at the Ministry of the Environment when he held that portfolio. He is accused of fraud and breach of trust, election bribery (extortion and threats), attempting to influence voters, false testimony and perjury.
Former ministry director general Shmuel Hershkovitz is accused of fraud and breach of trust. He claims he was Hanegbi’s “straw man” for personnel and appointments at the ministry, and was the “long arm” for many illegal political appointments.
The indictment names 321 witnesses for the prosecution, including Beitar Jerusalem football club chairman and Likud central committee member Vladimir Sklar, who asserts that his wife, Maya, was appointed deputy spokeswoman at the ministry, a post she still holds.
The Jerusalem Prosecutor’s Office wants to impanel three judges for the case, because the crimes were committed by Hanegbi when he was a minister, and “in view of the repercussions of the legal ruling expected in the case.”
Hanegbi said today that, after five years of foot-dragging and delays, he was happy that the matter would reach a legal hearing. He said he was victim of the desire of the Prosecutor’s Office to set a precedent for punishment for political appointments.
Sources at the Prosecutor’s Office today called for Hanegbi to resign. MK Avshalom Vilan (Yahad) and MK Uri Yehuda Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party) called on Hanegbi to set a proper norm for a public person. Vilan said, “This is the first step towards cleaning up the stable of crooked political appointments.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 25, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006