Was forced to step down from environment minister post. Hanegbi
Photo: Sebastian Shiener
Minister suspected of corruption
2004 State Comptroller report says Minister without portfolio Tzachi Hanagbi’s tenure as environment minister marred by corrupt political appointments of Likud Central Committee members and their relatives
Minister without portfolio Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) was interrogated Thursday under warning by police for suspicion of committing illegal acts related to inappropriate political appointments he had made during his tenure as environment minister.
The police launched the investigation six months ago following the 2004 State Comptrollers report regarding inappropriate political appointments in the Environment Ministry.
Pursuant to the report, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz decided to launch an inquiry into the matter.
Following his interrogation, Hanegbi told Ynet the appointments in the Environment Ministry were not made out of political considerations, but only out of considerations pertaining to the professional qualifications.
“All I will have to prove is that every person (appointed) had the practical compatibility for the job he was assigned to,” he said.
The 2004 State Comptrollers report stated that Hanegbi’s tenure as environment minister was marred by illegal, corrupt, and at times fabricated political appointments of Likud Central Committee members and their relatives.
Following Mazuz’s decision to launch a criminal investigation into the matter, Hanegbi was forced to step down from his Internal Security Minister post, and was subsequently appointed Minister without portfolio.
