Ex-AG Mandelblit Unsure If He Authorized Netanyahu Bribery Probe
Translated & summarized from 0404 by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in the Netanyahu trial that he does not recall explicitly authorizing an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for bribery in Case 4000. While he remembers authorizing a probe for "purity of conduct," he is unsure about the specific wording concerning bribery. Netanyahu's attorney argued that Mandelblit never approved a bribery investigation, presenting documents to support his claim. The exchange saw objections from the prosecution and criticism of legal terminology from the defense.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former AG Avichai Mandelblit does not recall authorizing a bribery probe into PM Netanyahu in Case 4000.
- Mandelblit remembers authorizing an investigation for "purity of conduct" but not specifically bribery.
- Netanyahu's attorney claims Mandelblit never approved a bribery investigation against the Prime Minister.
- Defense attorney Amit Haddad presented documents allegedly showing police acted against Mandelblit's stance.
- Prosecutor Judith Tirosh objected during the testimony, drawing a protest from the defense.
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit stated during his testimony in the Netanyahu trial that he does not recall explicitly authorizing an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under caution for suspected bribery in Case 4000. Mandelblit recalled authorizing an investigation into the Prime Minister for "purity of conduct" but could not remember the specific wording of the caution regarding bribery. He added that it's possible he misremembers and did authorize the investigation with the word "bribery" included in the caution for Case 4000. When pressed by the judge, Mandelblit reiterated that he does not remember authorizing an investigation for bribery.
Netanyahu's defense attorney, Amit Haddad, argued that even according to Mandelblit's account, he never approved an investigation into the Prime Minister on suspicion of bribery. Haddad presented documents he claimed showed the police investigated bribery suspicions at the time contrary to Mandelblit's position and the law. During the exchange, prosecutor Judith Tirosh objected, leading Haddad to protest the prosecution's intervention and threaten to request breaks if it continued. Haddad also criticized the use of the term "purity of conduct," calling it an "invention" that Mandelblit recently encountered while preparing his testimony.
