The National Fraud Unit started an investigation two weeks ago against outgoing Broadcasting Authority director-general Mordechai (Moti) Kirschenbaum. He is suspected of having received personal benefits in the course of his work at the Authority. Kirschenbaum denies the allegations.
The investigation was launched following a complaint according to which Kirschenbaum received benefits in kind from producers and an artistes agent in connection with preparation of programmes for Channel 1 at the beginning of his term of office as director-general of the Authority. The newspaper "Ma'ariv" will tomorrow publish an extensive report on the matter.
According to "Ma'ariv", those involved are production company "Dream Productions" owned by Ehud Bleiberg and Yitzhak Ginsburg, and the children’s programme "Dova’le", and artistes agent Shai Nesher. "Ma'ariv" says Bleiberg and Ginsburg were not questioned and have not commented, while Nesher refused to comment.
The police have confirmed the existence of an investigation into the matter. So far, the police said, Kirschenbaum has not been questioned, or summoned for questioning. Up to now, people connected to the matter have been questioned, it was reported. However, the Itim agency reported today that Kirschenbaum is likely to be questioned soon.
In response, Kirschenbaum told "Globes": "There are those who would like to cook up a leaving present for me. I’m not afraid of it. The police’s duty is to investigate, and if I am summoned for questioning, I will answer all their question to the best of my knowledge. As someone in a public position, I have to be open and prepared to face any probe or inquiry, and I have no intention of claiming that I am being investigated because of my ethnic origin. In the five years I have been in office, I have not pocketed a cent that wasn’t due to me.
"First I’ll give matter-of-fact answers, as much as required, to remove the mud they’re trying to sling at me. After that will come the scandalous answers about everyone behind this matter. The story has been hanging around newspapers for a year. It arose near the start of the Bar-On-Hebron affair, was raised in the form of questions in the Knesset, to which answers were given, and in the Broadcasting Authority plenum. Now, in my last week in the job, someone has taken the trouble to dig up the dirt.
"As for "Ma'ariv", Ofer Nimrodi has the Israel Land Development Company, and I have my good name. To me, my name is worth more than the Israel Land Development Company, and I reckon that after my lawyer looks into it, there will be a contest between my name and the assets of the Israel Land Development Company over the issue of defamation. I believe that, in the end, the cloud will prove to have a silver lining."
On April 18, Kirschenbaum finishes a five-year term as Israel Broadcasting Authority director-general.
Published by Israel's Business Arena March 26, 1998