Avi Zur, who in the past served as Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and who three years ago was convicted on criminal charges, is in the running for the post of special co-ordinator at the Ministry of National Infrastructures. The ministry is presently engaged in establishing a precise job description for Zur, who is considered closely allied with Minister of National Infrastructures Ariel Sharon.
Three years ago, Zur was convicted on three counts of accepting bribes and on two counts of breach of trust, as well as suborning a witness in the investigation. He was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of NIS 50,000. He was convicted in the same trial as former Deputy Minister Michael Dekel. Zur served as Dekel’s assistant for settlement affairs.
Zur was convicted of accepting a wall unit buffet and furniture for his home in Holon from the Arab real estate dealer, Ahmed Uda, who operated in the Territories. The Court rejected Zur’s pleas whereby he had paid for the products, and that the wall unit buffet was received after his term of office in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Zur was also convicted of suborning Uda to perjure himself in the matter of the wall unit buffet supplied to him.
Zur was appointed deputy director general of the Ports and Railroads Authority under Transport Minister Moshe Katzav, and resigned after being convicted.
Zur was not available for comment. Sharon told "Globes" that "If Zur gets a job at the Ministry, we will serve notice of the fact in due course, as we do regarding every appointment".