Yisrael Katz
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
Police: Charge Likud MK with fraud
Following long investigation into political appointments in Ministry of Agriculture, Fraud Investigation Unit recommends tells State Prosecutor's Office there is enough evidence to indict former minister
The police on Thursday recommended to the State Prosecutor's Office to charge former Agriculture Minister, Knesset Member Yisrael Katz, (Likud) on suspicion of fraud and breach of trust.
The fraud Investigation Unit completed its investigation into the political appointments in the Ministry of Agriculture and corporations related to the ministry.
The police believe that there is enough evidence to charge the former minister and his assistant, Michael Eilon, who served as director of the Plants Production and Marketing Board.
According to the 2005 State Comptroller's Report, "During Katz's tenure in the Ministry of Agriculture, political appointments and other inappropriate appointments were approved."
For example, 16 out of 24 workers accepted by the Rural Planning and Development Authority, were either Likud members or sons of Likud members.
Before the investigation was launched, Katz said that "I was never involved, directly or indirectly, in a political or inappropriate appointments in the Ministry of Agriculture and in the statutory corporations subject to the ministry."
