Key Qatargate suspect has same lawyer as PM, causing police concern about obstruction of justice

A senior police official in the Lahav 433 serious crimes unit told the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court that the police are concerned over the possibility of obstruction of justice in the Qatargate investigation due to the fact that attorney Amit Hadad, who is representing Jonatan Urich, one of the central suspects in the scandal, is also Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer.

Netanyahu gave testimony as a person with knowledge of the affair on Monday, although it has yet to be decided if he will be questioned by the police under caution, as a suspect.

“There is a problem here in that attorney Amit Hadad represents the prime minister, and is also the attorney of one of the suspects here,” says Superintendent Gili Rachlin.

“Attorney Hadad was with the prime minister yesterday after we finished the questioning. He knows what he [Netanyahu] said in his testimony. What he was asked. There is, therefore, a significant concern for obstruction of justice,” he continues.

Rachlin made his comments following demands by Hadad for the investigators to demonstrate why they were investigating Urich on suspicion of bribery, among other alleged violations of the law. A more junior investigator had been reticent to divulge such evidence in court because Hadad represents both men.

Hadad vehemently objected to Rachlin’s concerns and threatened to file a complaint against him, asserting that the claims were baseless.