The legal adviser to the government Gali Bahar-Miara today (Wednesday) ordered the completion of the preliminary police investigation into the case of the former head of the Mossad, Yossi Cohen, regarding funds he received from businessman James Packer for his daughter's wedding in the summer of 2016. This, in accordance with the recommendation of the State Attorney and the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division in the Israel Police.
This closed the case against Cohen.
The decision was made based on the findings of the preliminary examination, which was opened by the order of the previous Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, and deepened by the order of the Attorney General Beharve-Miara.
The inspection revealed, among other things, that the legal advisor of the institution at the time gave permission to receive the funds.
It also emerged that the offense that might have been relevant in the circumstances of the matter and justify the continuation of the investigation at the criminal level is a breach of trust by a public servant.
However, this became obsolete in the summer of 2021, near the time when the relevant information reached the law enforcement authorities, and the preliminary examination of the matter had not yet begun.
Former Mossad head Yossi Cohen (Photo: Government Press Office, Amos Ben Gershom, Neta)
About two years ago it was announced that seven years ago Cohen received $20,000 in cash from Packer as a gift for his daughter's wedding.
In response, the Mossad stated through the Prime Minister's Office that Cohen had reported the gift as required to the organization's legal advisor, who allowed him to accept it.
In June 2021, Cohen was interviewed for the Ovda program, in which he was asked about receiving favors during his position as head of the Mossad.
Cohen was asked, among other things, about a gift he received for his daughter's wedding, as well as about a donation given to the synagogue where he prays near his home, by businessman Rami Unger through a company from Panama.
In response to Ilana Dayan's questions about receiving pleasure favors, Cohen replied that the statements were approved by the Mossad's ombudsman, and said that he intends to return the wedding gift to Packer.
Following the interview, the 'Success' association contacted the Mossad ombudsman and the government ombudsman to find out whether and when the receipt of the favors was indeed approved by the legal counsel.
These two events took place while he held his position as the head of the Mossad and they apparently raise serious questions of propriety, motives and fear of violating the law," she wrote. They also asked to find out from the success association whether there were other cases in which a fear of a conflict of interest arose.
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