State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss spoke before the Knesset's State Control Committee and said that deterring punitive action is mandatory when in comes to white-collar crimes and public officials' breach of trust offenses.
The Committee held a special session on corruption in the government and public service, Tuesday. Lindenstrauss further called on the courts to give such cases a priority.
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The State comptroller went on to admonish the State Prosecutor's Office, saying both bodies must "conclude their investigations as soon as possible" and "not allow corruption suspects to plant doubt in the public's mind."
The leaders in question, he added, "must be brought to justice."
Lindenstrauss then turned his attention to the matter of settling corruption cases by plea bargains: "They are a necessity, that's an undisputed fact, but too many times they spell punitive leniency and send out the message that they are the preferable solution."
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, who also took part in the meeting, noted that "government corruption hinders the government's ability to make decisions and function properly."
The message that the fight against corruption must send, he continued, is that no man and no position are above the law, and that everyone must answer for their actions.
"(Israel)
is in the midst of disengaging from governmental corruption which is the result of a systematic fight against governmental corruption… a fight we can win."
The battle, he added, must be fought on a wider front and it requires close cooperation between the various law enforcement agencies.
"Only by working together can we effectively fight corruption. This cannot be left for the judicial area alone, but must include the educational, social, public and media areas as well.
"This fight has a deterring affect on the corridors of power, and while some rally to support it, there have been attempts by various elements to harm law enforcement."
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