The retired judge attacked those who at the time served as state's attorney and attorney general: "Requirements that were considered foreign considerations were required" • He also commented on Mandelblit's conduct
Manny Naftali
Photography:
Coco - Archive
The Ombudsman for Complaints against State Representatives in the Courts, retired Judge David Rosen, today (Tuesday) sharply criticized Shai Nitzan and Yehuda Weinstein, who served as State Attorney and Attorney General, respectively.
His remarks came against the background of a complaint filed by the Movement for Governance and Democracy in June 2019. This dealt with the decision of the prosecution authorities to grant Manny Naftali, the former head of the house at the Ra'am residence, the status of a state witness in the criminal proceedings in the dormitory case.
Rosen stated that the most senior echelons of the State Attorney's Office, including then-State Attorney Shai Nitzan and former Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, acted in a manner inconsistent with the ombudsman's directives regarding state witnesses. The commissioner added: Of Mr. Naftali in a clear and detailed agreement in order to avoid various assumptions about foreign considerations that were allegedly considered by the highest echelons in the law enforcement system. "
In addition, Rosen attacked Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who refrained from responding to the complaint despite sending him eight letters by the Complaints Commissioner. "The many ample opportunities given to Dr. Mandelblit to respond were not properly utilized," he wrote.
"No effort was made to condition the agreement on punishment"
According to the Movement for Governance and Democracy, in this case the essential conditions for drafting a state witness agreement were not met in accordance with the directive of the Attorney General on the subject.
In addition, it was noted that the things were done without anchoring the written agreements.
The manner and timing of the agreements between Naftali and the investigative authorities regarding his testimony in the case raised questions about the motives underlying the agreement.
Her people mentioned that Mani Naftali announced that part of his motives was the desire to spread his claims in the media.
"Alternative channels of investigation have not been exhausted prior to the granting of immunity and no previous evidence against Sarah Netanyahu has been examined," the movement wrote.
"Also, there was no sufficient examination of whether Naftali is in fact the main offender in the case and his degree of credibility was not tested. In addition, it was argued that it is not possible to know whether the prosecution examined the existence of supporting evidence for Naftali's testimony. , With a minimum penalty. "
Following the complaint and the decision of Commissioner Rosen, the State Attorney's Office decided to clarify and refine the procedures regarding promises given to witnesses such as Mani Naftali.
"There is no effective tool for reviewing the prosecution system"
Advocate Simcha Rotman, the Movement's attorney general for democracy and democracy, said: "It is disturbing to find that in handling the affairs of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dormitory and the testimony of the head of the household, Mr. Mani Naftali, "The Ombudsman's Guidelines regarding State Witnesses".
He said, "If this powerful system violates the rules and guidelines even when it comes to the prime minister and his family, one can only imagine the lack of standards in the files of ordinary citizens."
He added: "The fact that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit did his best to evade clarification of the complaint within a reasonable time and required eight reminder letters from retired Complaints Commissioner Judge David Rosen indicates the desire to 'crowd rows' and back up systemic failures. This shows no effective tool. To criticize the senior members of the prosecution system of the State of Israel. "
