Police report ‘dramatic development’ in investigation of MK David Bitan
Details of latest turn of events remain under gag order; Moshe Yosef, close associate of former coalition chair, questioned
Police sources close to the investigation into graft allegations against former coalition chair MK David Bitan said Tuesday that a “dramatic development” had occurred in the case.
Details about the development cannot be published as the investigation remains under a court-imposed gag order.
Meanwhile Tuesday, Rishon Lezion furniture store owner Moshe Yosef, a key suspect — and possible future state witness — in the probe, was questioned at the Lod headquarters of the Israel Police’s national fraud and major crimes unit Lahav 433.
Bitan, during his time as deputy mayor of Rishon Lezion, is suspected of taking loans from members of the Jarushi crime family and, when he was unable to repay them, offering favors in exchange for forgiveness of the loans.
Last week it was reported the state was attempting to convince Yosef to testify against the lawmaker, but he was reluctant to testify directly against Bitan or the Jarushi family, Channel 2 said Monday.
Channel 10 news reported on Sunday that police suspect the bribery schemes may have continued even after Bitan entered the Knesset in 2015 and was appointed coalition whip.
Bitan, who has already been questioned four times by police, is reportedly set to be questioned again on Thursday.
During his five-hour interrogation by police last week, the lawmaker refused to answer nearly all of the questions. It was unclear whether he would also remain silent during the next round of interrogation.
The investigation, dubbed by police Case 1803, has seen the arrests of a number of suspects, including Rishon Lezion’s mayor and other city officials, local businessmen, and organized crime figures. Bitan stepped down as coalition whip shortly after news of the investigation broke.
Police are reportedly trying to convince Dror Glazer, a second associate of Bitan’s, to turn state witness. Glazer, a real estate developer, is suspected of having transferred NIS 150,000 ($43,000) to Bitan via Yosef, exchange for the former coalition chairman attempting to advance the legislation.
Police have examined files at Yosef’s furniture store, which investigators believe was used as a front for money laundering.
When the probe into Bitan began, officers set up hidden cameras and recording devices in the store, and, based on the evidence they collected, built up a strong case against him, according to leaks from the investigation.
Police footage from the cameras reportedly showed Bitan counting large sums of money and appearing to use the store as a bank to withdraw cash. Officers were also said to have secretly filmed Bitan’s wife leaving Yosef’s store while carrying an envelope investigators believe was stuffed with cash.
