In the video: the wife of the public representative who is suspected of extortion by threats: the wife of the mayor of Karmiel (Photo: Yoav Itiel)
Suzy Koninski, the wife of the mayor of Karmiel, was arrested about two weeks ago on suspicion of serious crimes of blackmailing a businessman, against the background of his running against her husband for the mayorship.
Today (Tuesday) she reacts to the case for the first time, protesting the accusations and claiming that she was blackmailed herself.
At the hearing that took place last night at the Haifa Magistrate's Court at the request of Walla and Here News, Koninski heard the inclination of Judge Dr. Zaid Falah to allow the publication of her name which he had banned two weeks ago at her request. So, she herself signaled to her lawyer, Tami Ullman, who represents her with lawyers Judge Shadi Srouji and Shaf Ullman from her office, because she is withdrawing her objection to publication. The case gained renewed interest when the names of those involved were published, and Koninski, a lawyer herself, spoke again, beginning with her statement that she would refuse interviews again.
"My phone has over a thousand messages from today," she reveals when asked about reactions that followed the publication.
"People strengthen, people believe, people love and above all understand, because everyone in the city of Karmiel knows the nature of that businessman and who the Koninski family is. Now I have to return to my life. This is not about two weeks, but a matter that dragged on for over three years. We were followed, harassed and threats".
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A mayor's wife from the north was arrested on suspicion of extortion through threats
"When the mayor is not extorting, we move on to his family."
Koninski (Photo: Yoav Itiel)
The same businessman, she claims, failed to blackmail the mayor himself.
"When the mayor did not extort, moving to his family, there were many shocking manipulative matters," she adds.
She describes the last two weeks as a challenging journey.
"I was with the grandchildren a lot," she says.
"And suddenly I ask myself: Susie, what's going on here? Someone got confused. I'm being blackmailed, suddenly my life is being criticized. I'm learning to smile again and say thank you, because now he will stay away from me and this fateful courtship will end. At least that's how I hope, that he will recover from the disease." .
She feels a great relief following the permission of the name to be published, "a feeling of 'let's hear the real story'", she describes.
According to her, she was prepared for disclosure even on the day of the arrest.
"Two weeks ago I wanted to go in without any cover, to say 'Hello, I'm here and that's enough, free me from this fateful courtship,'" she says.
"I accept what my lawyers ask me to do," she replies when asked why, then, she did not act that way.
When she is asked how she managed the secrecy and silence despite her outgoing image, she hesitates.
"The word extrovert is not correct," she insists, "for someone who has served only women in the city of Karmiel for over 30 years, the word extrovert is a bit problematic. Yes, I am a woman, I am an opinionated woman, I know what I want and no one will trample me, you My children or my grandchildren. Yes, I am a mother of four elite children and a grandmother of five grandchildren and I am proud of everything I have and thank God."
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The wife of the public representative who is suspected of extortion by threats: the wife of Mayor Karmiel
To the full article
"There is nothing here except yellow color"
"The arrest was a difficult, shocking and above all sad experience," she shares.
Koninski vehemently denies the accusations against her.
"As someone who was blackmailed and threatened, who filed dozens of complaints with the Israel Police accompanied by evidence, I suddenly find myself required to explain what a cliché, what a mix-up. How do you begin to explain this and where do you begin?", she adds.
"He wants to run? Let him run! Who says no to him? I would recommend to his public relations that they see how honest he is and can influence.
But in Karmiel, no one is confused."
Associate Professor Hali Amar, who yesterday answered the questions of Judge Dr. Zaid Falah during the hearing of her case, claimed that "there are well-founded suspicions" against Koninski, and added that the evidence against her has not disappeared. "That's what they said," she replied. Koninski to the police claims in court. "They didn't bring any evidence, and we all know the investigating authority.
I'm sure they understood who was being threatened, who was being blackmailed, and that apart from the color yellow, there is nothing and nothing here."
"Someone tried to blackmail him with a picture of him kissing someone"
"The honorable mayor knows his wife, and everything is fine," she replies when asked what her husband thinks about her affair.
She denies the rumor in town, according to which she is the one who actually runs local politics.
"Whoever says that is the same businessman who spreads rumours," she says.
"I was born in Karmiel. Karmiel is important to me, but what can I do, I'm a busy working woman. Should I apologize that I don't have time for politics? If this is the moment to apologize for it, then I apologize. I don't have time to deal with politics," she declares.
She adds to also refrain from speaking her mind about intrusion into a person's privacy as part of the urban political struggles.
Instead, mentions what she herself experienced in her words.
"You're confused," she replies, "They entered my house with a drone. This is the tactic of the man who complains about me. What was he looking for in my house with a drone he bought? What were his employees doing there? I'm not sitting next to a park where everyone raises drones.
She is asked about the claims that she blackmailed the businessman with a photo in which he was seen in a car with a woman.
"I have never committed a criminal offense and probably at my advanced age, I never will," she replies.
"If someone tried to blackmail him with some picture of him kissing someone, then let them go to Facebook and see who the person is. You don't need to travel and fly around the globe. You can see the things in Karmiel. He won't be able to close the coffin of that businessman through me."
"I'm sure no one will choose the same businessman, everyone knows him in Karmiel"
"I'm not a politician and I can't say what effect this affair will have," she says in response to a question on the subject.
"What has to be will be. But, I'm sure that no one will choose the same businessman since everyone knows him in Karmiel. The one who will choose him is maybe his public relations person who doesn't live in the city, the researcher who doesn't live in Karmiel and all the bots and fictitious characters who also don't live in Karmiel." , says Koninski about the businessman, whom she suspects of blackmailing with threats.
Regarding police conduct, it draws lessons.
"What is certain is that I will not file any more complaints with the Israel Police. I don't trust them anymore. From December 2021 they have my complaints and they have done nothing. The result is a boomerang - and I find myself a suspect. Welcome to the State of Israel."
Regarding the prosecutor's office and the court, Koninski says, "Let's let people do what they know and I'm sure that today they will investigate correctly."
She claims, "That businessman misled them. Today they understand."
The mayor's wife adds, "Beyond the horrible shaming, those who know me know who I am and what I am, they know my family and know what values I was raised on and grew up on."
"We hope that the case will be closed due to lack of guilt in the near future so that it does not interfere with her husband in the elections," says lawyer Tami Ullman.
"She has nothing to do with the affair. She is the one who complained two months ago about that affair. She is the one being blackmailed and she is the victim."
"No one will trample me."
Koninski (Photo: Yoav Itiel)
On behalf of the businessman, public activist in Karmiel, it was said: "The publication reveals a whole series of serious incidents, some of which will be revealed in the coming period of time. In recent months, my family and I have been threatened and blackmailed by powerful people, who behaved like criminals, on behalf of a senior public figure in Karmiel. Those arrested, They sought not only to discredit my name and damage my family unit, but to interfere in the upcoming elections in Karmiel and prevent me from running for mayor. This is a very serious criminal extortion, designed to damage the will of the voter and preserve economic and political interests in the city of Karmiel. My family and I chose not to be blackmailed and not to be deterred, and we worked to submit An immediate complaint to the Israel Police, who acted quickly and impeccably."
The police stated: "The investigation against Mrs. Koninski was opened due to the fact that she is suspected of being involved in a serious act of extortion by threats, and the investigation is underway. As for her complaint, she is being handled by the police regardless of the suspicions against her. Beyond that, we cannot add details in light of the investigation, which as mentioned is still ongoing underway".
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