The Israel Police's National Fraud Squad (Lahav 433) today launched an investigation into suspicions of fraud and breach of trust at the Ministry of Transportation, following the investigative program “Hamkor” hosted by Channel 13 news journalist Raviv Drucker. This morning, police investigators raided the offices of the Ministry of Transport in Jerusalem, conducted searches and confiscated documents.
The Israeli police said: “An investigation was opened on the instructions of the Attorney General and the State Prosecutor on suspicion of integrity violations and obstruction of justice, allegedly committed in the Ministry of Transportation, following the events revealed in the investigation report.” “The investigation is ongoing.”
Traffic lights system
According to Hamkor, Transportation Minister Miri Regev and her aides were rating cities and towns using a traffic light system based on the ability of mayors, heads of local authorities, and senior officials in power to help Regev in the Likud Party primaries. The investigation depicted Regev's behavior as a person acting unprofessionally and running the Ministry of Transportation according to his personal political interests.
Among other things, documents were presented in the investigative program showing that Regev made decisions to favor or avoid cities and towns using the same classification based on the ability of the mayor or head of the local authority to help her vote in the primaries. The investigation included documents, correspondence, and recordings of Regev and her accompanying delegation, including Director General Moshe Ben Zaken and her spokesman, Dodi Sassi.
Hamkor interviewed Yonatan Yehosev, Regev's former chief of staff, who said: “It was actually determined according to a set of primary election results that Miri Regev got in the last Likud election. The green color represents the powers that you have to give to the party. You have to fight.” For them, yellow represents the authorities, and if possible, that would be great if it looks like the Ministry of Finance is funneling money to us – if not, it's not the end of the world. “White” means send messages and we'll talk.
The investigation program also presented documents, hand-signed by Regev, about decisions taken “in accordance with the guidance of professional authorities.” According to Joseph's testimony, it was written this way even in cases where experts did not believe it. The cities that received priority included Ashkelon, Nof Galilee, the Druze settlement of Kisra-Sumi, and the Nahal Sorek Regional Council.
Warning message to Channel 13
At the same time, Regev engaged the services of Adv. Amit Haddad, who sent a warning letter to Channel 13. In the letter, Regev claimed that the investigative program was distorted and false and that Yousef had stolen documents from the office and even fabricated them – for example, those related to the way Regev gave priority to the heads of authorities that were called “blip “In Hamkor.
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Status. Haddad's letter also stated, “Our client is not aware of the pages that I provided in the program. An inspection of the office reveals that there are already supervision and control tables whose goal is to enable effective and efficient supervision of various requests. These tables even include colors, but there is no indication in them or A connection to political affiliation or support. On the contrary, the colors address the question of who is the organization responsible for this, what is the status of the handling, etc. It has nothing to do with giving priority to the authorities on the basis of kinship or political connection.”
Concrete allegations also appeared refuting the decisions mentioned in the investigation program regarding Route 40, Emek Hayarden, Arad, Beit Shemesh, Netivot and Bnei Rim, and it was pointed out that since Regev became Minister of Transportation, dozens of projects have been funded, regardless. The political affiliations of various parties, “but in accordance with the opinions of professional bodies and the Ministry’s policies.”
Ministry of Transport: Fabricated and false investigation
The Ministry of Transportation said in response: “It is unfortunate that a few weeks after Drucker’s false investigation program was broadcast, the Israeli police came looking for documents that were not found in the Ministry of Transportation.
“The truth is simple. This is a fabricated investigation. There was and has never been any preference based on politics. The Ministry of Transport distributes its budgets according to the policy and decision of professionals, and any other claim is false.
“The Department of Transportation will cooperate with the investigation to prove the falsehood of Drucker’s claims in his investigative program.”
Presumption of innocence: It must be emphasized that this is the first stage of the criminal investigation and those involved have not been charged with any crime and have the right to the presumption of innocence.
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on June 10, 2024.
© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.