The Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court yesterday released Holyland middleman Meir Rabin to restricted house arrest for 20 days, after 34 days in jail. The Israel Police agreed to the release.
Rabin was arrested on April 6, and kept his right to silence during questioning. As a condition of his release, he is banned from speaking with anyone except for family and his attorneys. He is barred from leaving Israel for 180 days, and posted NIS 350,000 bail and a third-party guarantee of NIS 200,000.
Rabin is suspected of acting as a middleman in the transfer of bribes from the Holyland developers to public figures in the Jerusalem Municipality and Israel Land Administration.
Beit Shemesh Municipality director general Matti Hotta,was brought before the court yesterday for extension of his remand, but will probably be released to restricted house arrest. He was arrested last Wednesday. He is suspected of demanding and receiving bribes from the Holyland developers when he served as chairman of the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Commission and chairman of the objections subcommittee in 1996-2004. In exchange, he helped facilitate permits for the project.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 10, 2010
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