Milchan makes ‘dramatic’ changes to his testimony in Netanyahu case — report
Hollywood mogul said to hamper case by walking back previous assessment of the amount he spent on gifts for the PM and his wife
Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan “dramatically” walked back two key elements of his testimony in a recent interview with police, Channel 2 reported Wednesday, in a development that could hamper the state’s efforts to build a corruption case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Police questioned Milchan for the second time last week at his Los Angeles home as part of their investigation into allegations that he gave hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts, including expensive cigars, champagne and jewelry, to Netanyahu and his wife, Sara.
Wednesday’s report said Milchan made a “dramatic” shift on two key elements: the total amount that he spent on the gifts for the Netanyahus and the assertion that the prime minister was aware of the cost.
Following Milchan’s shift, police are now less sure what kind of a witness he would be should the affair, known as Case 1000, go to trial. Still, the report said that police were still leaning toward recommending an indictment.
The TV report is at odds with previous leaks about Milchan’s recent testimony, which said it had bolstered the case. Earlier in the week, Hebrew media reported that Milchan told police he had asked another billionaire, the Australian James Packer, who is a mutual friend of his and the Netanyahus, to help shoulder the cost of the gifts and that Packer paid a quarter of the costs.
In light of Milchan’s new remarks, police are now more determined than ever to question Packer, Chanel 2 reported. Police have reportedly been unable to pin down the globe-trotting billionaire so far.
The prime minister has claimed the gifts were “between friends” and that he himself bought most of the cigars with cash given to him by “a rich relative.”
Netanyahu was questioned by police four the fourth time on Sunday, but that reportedly only dealt with a second case Netanyahu is facing, known as Case 2000, which involves alleged negotiations with the publisher of the Yedioth Aharonoth daily, Arnon Mozes.
That case focuses on the prime minister’s supposed promise to advance legislation to hobble his paper’s rival, the Sheldon Adelson-controlled Israel Hayom, in exchange for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.
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