State comptroller to probe Ramon wiretapping
Government grants vice premier's request to investigate alleged illegal wiretapping operation by police during his trial; former Justice Micha Lindenstrauss tasked with job after heated debate
The government on Sunday voted in favor of ordering the State Comptroller's Office to launch an inquiry into allegations the police, in conjunction with the State Prosecution, conducted an illegal wiretapping operation against Vice Premier Haim Ramon while the latter stood trial on sexual harassment charges.
The government further opted to grant State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss extensive jurisdiction in the case, instead of forming a committee of parliamentary inquiry into the lapses in Ramon's case.
The motion was carried 16 to one, with Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter casting the only nay vote. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Ramon himself were not present at the meeting.
Forming any kind of inquiry into Ramon's case was "a disgrace," said Dichter, adding he has no objection to the State Comptroller's Office looking into the matter. "The state comptroller doesn’t need the government's backing to investigate the police. If he chooses to do so he will be given the department's full cooperation."
No evidence of malice
Ramon first began demanding an inquiry shortly after his trail ended. Citing an anonymous informant, he accused the police of using illegal wiretaps during the course of his investigation and trial. Both the police and the State Prosecutor's Office denied the allegations.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz then formed the Brener Committee, tasked with looking into the police and the State Prosecutor's Office's conduct during the Ramon case. The committee found various failures in police procedures, but noted it found not evidence of malice.
Sunday's debate about the alleged wiretapping became heated in its first minutes, as Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann lashed out at Mazuz for "listening to no one and doing whatever he wants."
Friedmann further slammed Mazuz for calling the decision to form a committee of parliamentary inquiry "an abuse of power."
The compromise was said to be acceptable by all those involved, including Justice Minister Friedmann.
