The Israel Police plan to arrest a senior public figure next week, and to question him as part of the Holyland investigation. Sources inform ''Globes'' that the circle of suspects in the case will likely expand in the near future, following the investigation's switch from undercover to open two days ago.
The evidence of the senior public figure, on whose identity a gag order still applies, should shed light on one of the links in the chain of bribes suspected in the real estate projects related to the case.
Petah Tikva District Court Vice President Judge Avraham Tal today dismissed an appeal filed by Adv. Uri Messer, an associate of former prime minister Ehud Olmert, against the extension of his remand by six days as part of the Holyland investigation. Messer will stay in jail until Sunday afternoon.
Appeals by other suspects arrested in case - businessmen Hillel Chernoy and Eli Hasson, and former Jerusalem city engineer Uri Shetrit - were also dismissed. Yesterday, their remand was extended by eight days.
The court has called the case one of the most serious corruption cases in Israel's history. A gag order on the details of the case was partly lifted yesterday. Messer is suspected of receiving bribes from contractors linked to the Holyland development in Jerusalem, the Havat Hazera project near the Hiriya outside Tel Aviv, and the Menara Cliff project. Messer allegedly kept part of the bribes, and transferred the rest to the senior public figure. The bribes were paid in order to obtain support and assistance in promoting the projects' development.
Other suspects, including Meir Rubin and Amram Benizri, allegedly received, mediated, and gave bribes. They are also suspected of fraud and breach of trust, conspiracy to commit a crime, and other violations.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 8, 2010
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