Katsav attorneys slam police official over TV interview

Lawyers accuse Major General Yohanan Danino of obstruction of justice; say he is trying to pressure State Prosecutor's Office into indicting former president over sex charges
Aviad Glickman

Attorneys for former President Moshe Katsav sent a scathing letter to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and State Prosecutor Moshe Lador on Sunday, in which they accused Major General Yohanan Danino, head of the police's investigation and intelligence unit, of obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

The letter was drafted following a recent television interview, in which Danino said he was exerting all of his influence so that an indictment would be filed against Katsav.

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During the interview, Danino insinuated that Mazuz's contention that there was insufficient evidence to indict him, was unfounded.

Katsav, who was forced to resign after being charged with several counts of sexual harassment, reneged on a plea bargain agreement in April. The Attorney General's Office has yet to file a new indictment in his case and therefore he has yet to stand trial.

In the letter, attorneys Zion Amir, Avigdor Feldman and Avraham Lavi said Danino's interview regarding a case that was still pending constituted obstruction of justice, witness tampering and a severe infringement of the sub judice rules (stating that while a matter is under judicial consideration, media comments on the case are prohibited because the matter has not yet been decided by the courts).

"Danino is using the media to pressure the State Prosecutor's Office, which is still studying the case. Why are law enforcement agencies taking an active part in this media campaign?" the letter read.

According to the attorneys, Danino's comments prove that the residual investigation of the case was not conducted in order to expose the truth, but rather to substantiate the police's recommendation to indict the former president.

A law enforcement official told Ynet "I don't understand why Danino rushed to speak about the Katsav affair when a decision on whether to file an indictment is expected in the coming weeks."