Police ‘to recommend indicting PM associates Shimron, Molcho in sub affair’
According to TV report, Netanyahu’s lawyer and former confidant are among 5 suspects officials seek to put on trial in Case 3000
Police are set to recommend indicting five suspects in Case 3000, also known as the submarine affair, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s former adviser and confidant Yitzchak Molcho. Also among the five is Netanyahu’s personal lawyer and cousin David Shimron, Kan TV news reported Friday.
The case involves suspicions that state officials were paid bribes to influence a decision to purchase four patrol boats and three Dolphin-class submarines costing a total of 2 billion euros from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp, despite opposition to the deal from the Defense Ministry.
Police suspect that Molcho tried to push the submarine deal during his diplomatic trips abroad, while Shimron, Molcho’s legal partner, sought to promote the interests of the German shipbuilders within Israel.
Shimron has been questioned several times as part of the investigation by Lahav 433, the police anti-corruption unit. In addition to his work with Netanyahu, he served as a lawyer for Miki Ganor, who was ThyssenKrupp’s local representative and who turned state witness in July. He is considered a key suspect in the case.
According to media reports, Ganor told investigators that he had hired Shimron because of his ties to senior government officials.
Other evidence held by police reportedly points to a meeting held by Shimron and Netanyahu in the seaside town of Caesarea, where the prime minister’s private residence is located. The two discussed the purchase of the submarines, and Shimron later reported to Ganor about the meeting.
Netanyahu himself is expected to be called in to testify in the case, though he has so far not been named a suspect.
