Lawyer Defends Ex-Police Deputy Chief for Sharing Investigation Details with Prison Service Commissioner

Attorney Sharon Vaknin, representing Deputy Commissioner Lior Abudraham, stated that his client did not breach confidentiality by sharing details of an investigation against former YAMAR Shai commander Avishi Moalem with Israel Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yakobi. Vaknin emphasized that the information was shared internally within the security apparatus and not with an external party, explaining that if the recipient has the appropriate clearance, such disclosure is permissible. He made these remarks during an interview on the "Kalman & Keren" program on Kan 11 News.

Vaknin clarified that although Yakobi had already assumed his role at the Prison Service at the time, he was previously a senior police official, and Abudraham, serving as the assistant police commissioner, had access to the investigation information. He described Yakobi as a senior figure within the organizational system, justifying the information transfer.

The lawyer also addressed the ongoing investigation against Abudraham himself, who is suspected of sexually harassing Alona Shoshan, head of the police Human Resources Division. Vaknin suggested the complaint was filed only after Shoshan was summoned to testify and questioned the seriousness of a delayed harassment claim from someone later suspected of a crime.

Separately, a court ruling at the end of 2024 allowed the publication that Moalem is suspected of leaking classified information to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and of misconduct in handling national crime in Judea and Samaria. Moalem is also suspected of colluding with a businessman with a criminal record, who allegedly promised to involve Moalem as a partner in a business and funnel money to him in exchange for erasing the criminal record.