New information which reached the committee for examining appointments in state owned companies, headed by Judge (Ret.) Mordechai Ben-Dror, revealing that Herzliya mayor Eli Landau was convicted of criminal offenses, casts a doubt on his appointment as Israel Electric Corporation chairman. Landau is suspected of incorrect reporting to the committee, when he replied negatively to a question if he had a criminal conviction, "Globes" has learned.
The information refers to Landau’s conviction in 1990, for an offense of obstructing a policewoman in the course of her duty ("obstructing a civil servant"). Landau did not pass on this information several months ago, in the questionnaire he filled in and submitted to the committee, when the latter was asked to approve his appointment as director of IEC.
The committee learned of the conviction in recent weeks as a result of approaches made by several citizens. It was learned that his appointment as director will also be reviewed, in light of the information on his conviction. A further discussion on the topic will take place next week.
The committee asked Landau for explanations on the subject, and he replied, through his lawyer Adv. Navot Tel-Tsur, that he was pardoned by the President of the State, "which means the conviction is expunged from the record." In a decision of September 27, 1997, the President determined that he was shortening the time pertaining to the erasure of the offense in a way that the conviction would be expunged from the record on October 1, 1997.
Published by Israel's Business Arena October 26, 1998