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MK Pines: I'm puzzled by police silence over PM's probe
Head of Knesset's Interior Committee, in charge of police, says he's puzzled by decision to hide Olmert's investigation from public
Amnon Meranda
Puzzling police silence: Knesset Member Ophir Pines, who heads the Knesset's Interior Committee that supervises the police, expressed his puzzlement Thursday night over the police's decision to keep the urgent interrogation
of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert under wraps.
Thursday evening, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Olmert will face investigators Friday at his Jerusalem residence. Earlier, Channel 2 reported that the interrogation was made possible after Attorney General Menachem Mazuz approved the police's request to interview Olmert within the next 48 hours.
Responding to the police's refusal to comment on Olmert's probe, Pines told Ynet: "It's unreasonable and puzzling in my view that the police hid from the public the prime minister's investigation."
"It would be appropriate for the investigation of a prime minister not to be published through a leak…but rather, via a police spokesperson's announcement," he said. "In addition, the fact that the police have not revealed the affair which the prime minister is expected to be questioned over also raises quite a few question marks."
Notably, senior police officials pledged in the past that in all matters pertaining to the investigation of prime ministers they will make sure to quickly disclose full information to the public. However, in a highly unusual move, the police have declined to make any comment after reports of Olmert's planned interrogation surfaced.
"If the probe was hidden in order to prevent its disruption, it's acceptable, yet if the police refuse to disclose details because they fear the prime minister, we are dealing with a dangerous situation that must not happen within Israeli democracy," Pines warned. "Police forces that fear the political leadership cannot function."
Criminal law expert Prof. Emmanuel Gross also addressed the issue, predicting that the police's conduct stemmed from relevant considerations.
"In my estimation, this was done in order to avoid a possible harm to the police's ability to succeed in its investigation," he said.
Police officials are not saying anything because they may wish to keep Olmert from preparing for the interrogation, Gross said.
"They apparently intend to demand that the prime minister speak without preparing for it," he said.
Aviram Zino contributed to report
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