Media Advisor Convicted of Bribery Mediation in Submarine Affair
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Media advisor Yitzhak Liber was convicted of mediating bribery, money laundering, and tax offenses in Israel's "Submarine Affair." He allegedly received NIS 94,000 from a German conglomerate's representative and passed it to a former Prime Minister's Office Chief of Staff to advance a submarine deal. Liber denied the charges, claiming the payments were for legitimate services. Meanwhile, former Supreme Court President Ashi Gronis has resigned from the affair's investigation committee due to health reasons.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Media advisor Yitzhak Liber convicted of bribery mediation in Israel's "Submarine Affair."
- Liber allegedly funneled NIS 94,000 from ThyssenKrupp representative to PMO Chief of Staff.
- Liber denied charges, claiming payments were for legitimate services.
- Former Supreme Court President Ashi Gronis resigns from investigation committee.
- Investigation committee previously cited billions in procurement flaws and security risks.
A Tel Aviv District Court has convicted media advisor Yitzhak Liber of mediating bribery, money laundering, tax offenses, and aiding in the preparation of false accounting records in the "Submarine Affair." The conviction comes five years after the indictment was filed.
Liber was found to have received approximately NIS 94,000 from Miki Ganor, a representative of the German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp in Israel, and transferred the funds to David Shar'an, then Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister's Office. The court determined these actions were intended to "promote" Israel's acquisition of submarines from the company.
The ruling, spanning 96 pages, was authored by Judge Shmuel Melamed, who took over the case following the death of Judge Beni Sagie, who had heard the testimonies. Liber had fully denied the bribery mediation charge during his trial, asserting that the money from Ganor was payment for legitimate work and services rendered. He claimed his relationship with Ganor began concerning an ammonia tender and expanded to other projects, with payments processed through companies N.T.T. and Nes Mor based on his partner Nati Mor's professional decision. Liber vehemently denied acting as a conduit for information or bribe money between Ganor and Shar'an.
In related developments, former Supreme Court President Ashi Gronis has withdrawn from the submarine affair's investigation committee due to his medical condition. The committee itself had previously identified billions in procurement deficiencies and decisions that endangered national security.
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