It was cleared for publication Thursday that Israel Police
is conducting an investigation of senior police officers on suspicion of
accepting bribe from Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto
In Wednesday's issue of newsletter the rabbi releases
periodically to his supporters, he wrote: "I will reveal my emotions
before you. Dear brothers, this dark time forced upon us haunts us without us
having committed any crime, and only due to narrow-minded and cruel
considerations of those who use scare tactics."
The only senior police officer whose name is mentioned in a
statement issued by the Justice Ministry regarding the investigation is officer
Menashe Arviv.
The department of internal affairs with the Israel Police
stated that "recently, a probe was launched regarding officer Menashe
Arviv, following information handed several weeks ago to the attorney general
and the state prosecutor, attributing felonies of bribe, from sources
affiliated with Rabbi Pinto, to the officer. At this stage, Arviv has yet to be
questioned."
Arviv said after his meeting with the police commissioner
that "this is a false accusation and damage to my reputation, and I
believe that the investigation will be carried out quickly and effectively, and
that at its conclusion my good name will be restored."
Following the publication, officer Arviv decided to suspend
himself until conclusion of legal proceedings.
The police chief said: "It would be wise to let the
authorities maximize their abilities prior to sentencing a man. As we have
proven in the past, the police do not compromise values and principles, but we
must keep in mind this is an early stage of the investigation and the police
officer is entitled for the presumption of innocence."
Allegations of bribe
It has been reported that a suitcase carrying hundreds of
thousands of shekels was handed by Pinto's wife to the wife of officer Ephraim
Bracha for information regarding an investigation against an association with
which Pinto was involved.
Bracha, then head of investigations and currently the head
of the national unit for fraud investigation, informed his superiors, of the
handing over of the suitcase, noting it was bribe. The rabbi, however, insisted
that he was supporting Bracha, who was in need of help.
Bracha's complaint prompted police to summon Pinto and draft
an indictment, but proceedings were discontinued as a result of new
information.
Some of the new information suggested that Arviv received
bribe from Pinto when the former was working in the US. Arviv denied the
allegations and insisted that none of the allegations attributed to him had
happened, and that it was "gossip of narrow-minded people."
Despite all this, the Justice Ministry stressed that
"In investigating Rabbi Pinto, there was no basis for suspicion of
criminal misconduct by officer Ephraim Bracha, and that remains to be
true."
FBI investigation
As part of a settlement with the FBI, a blackmail complaint
filed by Pinto forced the rabbi to testify against Michael Grimm, a New York
Republican Congressman and a former FBI agent.
Grimm was under FBI investigation for illegal donations to
his 2010 campaign. Some of the donations were reportedly by sources affiliated
with Rabbi Pinto.
Pinto's agreement with the FBI required that the rabbi's
phone be wiretapped and that he would divulge any information regarding
financial transaction associated with the Hazon Yishaya organization.
According to Pinto, as part of the surveillance, the FBI was
informed of the suitcase with money that was given to Bracha.
The tracing of Pinto's footsteps apparently yielded
information regarding other senior police officials who also visited the rabbi
and were given benefits.
One of the FBI's recordings, according to Pinto's men, is
leading to a religious figure, closely affiliated to several police officials,
who turned to Pinto himself and offered to "dissolve" the
investigation against him in exchange for money.
In the last 24 hours, an FBI representative landed in Israel
together with recordings, documents, e-mail copies, and other materials that
allegedly confirm the claims of Rabbi Pinto in regards to his link to the
senior police officers.
However, the FBI is furious with the Israeli police, it
seems, insisting that there are officers who compromised the investigation
against US Congressman Grimm, by tarnishing Pinto. This is where a senior
former minister gets involved in the ordeal, who according to Pinto was one of
those who spoke with him and asked him to "lay off" his testimony
against Grimm. It is unclear to what extent the investigators will focus on
this claim.
'Can of worms'
Rabbi Pinto, one of Israel’s most influential rabbis, is a
spiritual guide to many politicians and tycoons and the chair of many education
and welfare organizations.
The entire sequence of events was under a sweeping gag order
in recent weeks, and it was lifted Thursday morning upon the request of Ynet
and other media outlets. Ynet was represented in the Jerusalem Magistrate's
Court by attorney Tali Leiblich and Liat Bergman.
The involvement of a former Israeli minister is also
suspected and is to be probed. Sources familiar with Pinto's businesses have
stated in the past that: "If this can of worms is opened, many Israeli
officials will be embarrassed by the findings."
On Wednesday, it was revealed that the affair is to be
deliberated in the Knesset, by a subcommittee that supervises Israeli police.
Senior police officers are expected to be summoned, and according to reports,
Police Chief Yohanan Danino may also be summoned.
Police issued a statement on Wednesday, urging media to
avoid from insinuating any criminal misconduct in relation to police officials,
stressing that "vague publications maneuvering the limitation of gag
orders produce unrealistic generalizations.
"The Israeli police consist of some 30,000 policemen,
women and officers who are devoted, determined and loyal in serving the public.
"Israel Police would like to clarify to the public that
no specific incident, as we have proven in the past, can tarnish an entire
organization… It would be best if authorities could issue statements when the
time comes, and avoid unnecessary rumor spreading."
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