Ex-AG Mandelblit's Testimony Reveals Alleged Cover-Up in Ritman Case
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's testimony in Prime Minister Netanyahu's trial revealed allegations that crucial information was withheld from him. Documents showed the head of police investigations was allegedly prevented from meeting Mandelblit regarding the Ronnie Ritman case. Additionally, former AG Yehuda Weinstein stated he was unaware of secret meetings between police officials and journalist Ben Caspit before Mandelblit took office.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ex-AG Mandelblit's testimony revealed allegations of withheld information in the Ronnie Ritman case.
- Mahash head Uri Carmel was allegedly prevented from meeting Mandelblit by State Attorney Shai Nitzan.
- Ritman claimed individuals linked to the PMO sought his removal, a fact not reported to Mandelblit.
- Former AG Yehuda Weinstein denied knowledge of secret police-journalist meetings.
- Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Haddad presented these findings during Mandelblit's cross-examination.
During the cross-examination of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Haddad presented internal documents suggesting crucial information was withheld from Mandelblit.
One key document was an email from July 13, 2017, by Uri Carmel, then head of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash), to Mital Schindl. Carmel expressed his desire to meet with Mandelblit before submitting a response to a High Court petition regarding then-Lahav 433 commander Ronnie Ritman. Carmel stated Mandelblit had not read the documents and he wanted to ensure the Attorney General was aware of Mahash's opinion and his letters to the State Attorney.
Carmel's email indicated his request was denied, with Osnat clarifying that then-State Attorney Shai Nitzan did not believe a meeting was necessary. Haddad confronted Mandelblit with these emails, asking if he knew Mahash's head had been prevented from meeting him. The prosecution objected, citing irrelevance to the Netanyahu trial.
Haddad also presented evidence that Ritman claimed individuals connected to the Prime Minister's Office were working to remove him and the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division from their posts due to their unit's actions against public figures. Mandelblit acknowledged he would expect to be immediately informed of such serious allegations but confirmed he was not informed in real-time.
Furthermore, Haddad revealed a meeting on November 29, 2015, between Eran Kamin, acting head of the National Fraud Unit, and journalist Ben Caspit. Kamin testified the meeting was to gather intelligence regarding the "Residences Case" with the approval of the head of the Investigations Division. However, former Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein stated in a February 2024 deposition that he had no knowledge of this meeting and never authorized it, only learning about it later.
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