The second-ranking official in the Securities Authority's legal advisory said Tuesday that during the period of the alleged events, he did not believe the bribery charge in Case 4000 was warranted, and that his view was not heeded.
The statement from the second-ranking official in the Securities Authority's legal advisory adds a new dimension to the debate over the bribery charge in Case 4000, the long-running corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The official said that at the time of the events, he did not believe the bribery charge was justified, and that his opinion was overruled.
As The Zioneer reported on June 29, the panel of judges in the case reaffirmed its recommendation to drop the bribery charge, a recommendation that the prosecution has so far refused to accept. The official's remarks align with the judges' view that the bribery charge may not be sustainable.
The Securities Authority was the regulatory body that initially investigated the case, known as Case 4000 or the Bezeq-Walla affair, involving allegations that Netanyahu granted regulatory benefits to Bezeq in exchange for favorable coverage on the Walla news site. The bribery charge has been the most contentious count in the indictment.
- StrongLegal commentators: Prosecution refusal to drop bribery charge in Case 4000 would aim for a Supreme Court appeal
- StrongSenior prosecution source says judges' recommendation to drop bribery charge in Case 4000 'requires a recalculation'
- DevelopingSaar and MK Saada attack prosecution after panel upholds recommendation to drop bribery charge in Case 4000
- DevelopingPoll: 58% of Israelis say prosecutors in Case 4000 should face consequences
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