Police said probing severe allegations against senior justice official
Attorney general, state prosecutor, chief of police all reportedly overseeing matter; alleged offenses could carry lengthy prison time if proven, report says
Police have opened an investigation into a senior official in the justice system over severe allegations that could carry a lengthy prison sentence, according to a Channel 12 news report on Thursday.
A gag order has been placed on details of the probe, which is being overseen by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, State Attorney Amit Aisman and Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai.
No details were given on the nature of the accusations.
Channel 12 said that Aisman told top police investigators this week to look into the affair and swiftly report back to him. The matter is being handled by the Lahav 433 serious crime unit.
A senior official in the law enforcement establishment told Channel 12 that it is a “particularly sensitive and complicated investigation.”
The official said that if even some of the allegations are found to be true “it will be hard to believe and comprehend that it really happened.”
Attorney Chur Uriel Nizri, representing those who filed the complaint, told Channel 12 that the case will be a “judgment day” for the justice system.
“We need to ask ourselves serious questions, including, how did we not identify this? How did such a person manage to penetrate to the heart of the justice system?” Nizri said.
The attorney said that he trusts that, although the matter involves a senior figure, the justice and law enforcement systems will show that “everyone is equal before the law.”
