Ramon testifies before state comptroller on wiretapping affair
Vice premier first in series of top officials to testify before State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss on police wiretapping, its influence on his indictment in sexual harassment case
Vice Premier Haim Ramon testified Sunday before State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss and his inspection team concerning a police wiretapping operation conducted during the investigation that
lead to his indictment for sexually harassing a female officer serving at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Earlier, Haifa District Prosecutor Lily Burishansky appeared before Lindenstrauss and his team, after having been summoned to testify on reinforcing the prosecutor’s supervision on police court appeals to approve wiretapping.
The state comptroller’s office reported that the head of the Intelligence and Investigations Unit, Major-General Yohanan Danino and Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen will appear before the inspection team in the next few days.
Other top officials have also been called to appear before the committee in a later date, including Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, State Prosecutor Moshe Lador and his predecessor Eran Shendar, and various district attorneys.
About a month ago, the government decided following a lengthy discussion, to have the state comptroller examine the usage of wiretapping and its results in Ramon’s case. This came after Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann’s proposal to establish a commission of inquiry on the matter was rejected.
While Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, himself under investigation, failed to attend that discussion, Ramon’s active participation elicited much criticism. “The system is against any type of inspection. The party which notified me on those wiretappings is trembling with fear,” Ramon said during that meeting.
