According to the decision of the Attorney General, Dr. Avichai Mandelblit, an indictment was filed today (Tuesday) in the Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court against MK Haim Katz, after MK Katz informed the Knesset Speaker and the Speaker of the Knesset Committee that he did not intend to Request immunity from criminal prosecution.
Katz is credited with conspiring to achieve a kosher goal by improper means.
According to the indictment, Katz, who was chairing the Knesset's Welfare Committee at the time, summoned capital market trader Moti Ben-Ari to the committee as an expert to promote a bill in repaying bonds in troubled companies, but did not disclose information about his personal ties to committee members. And the economic with Ben-Ari and about Ben-Ari's economic interest in advancing the law.
Moti Ben-Ari, archive, photo: Einat LeBron / Globes
It will be recalled that about two years ago, the Attorney General decided to file an indictment against MK Katz for his ties with the same capital market trader for fraud and breach of trust under section 284 of the Penal Code, but the Knesset of Israel ruled that Katz was immune from criminal prosecution.
Afterwards, a dialogue took place with Katz's attorney, in which their claims regarding the factual and legal infrastructure were heard once again, and additional data were presented in this context, and after weighing all the relevant material, it was found correct to change the facts of the indictment and the offense section. Argument, to the wording of the indictment filed today.
Meanwhile, it was agreed in the plea agreement that MK Katz will confess and be convicted in the indictment filed, and the parties will jointly petition for MK Katz to be sentenced to a fine and a suspended sentence. Value in the State Attorney's Office for Taxation and Economics.
Another investigation file, in which Katz was questioned as a suspect concerned with non-payment of tax lawfully, was shelved due to evidentiary considerations.
Katz responded: "The accusation against me is regarding the information I had to bring to the members of the Knesset committee in the circumstances. I take full responsibility for this. For the past five years I have paid a high personal and public price, because the process is the punishment, and I found it appropriate to reach an agreement." .
MK Katz is represented by attorneys Noyet Negev, Yana Fogel Slutznik and Tuval Buch from the Sheinman Negev Niv law firm.
