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Cherney. Suspected of bribery
Photo: Ofer Amram
Kelner, one of main suspects
Photo: Ofer Amram

Prosecution: Hundreds to be questioned in Holyland case

State prosecution tells court main suspects must remain in custody while evidence is collected

Spokeswoman for the State Prosecutor's Office Liat Ben-Ari said hundreds of witnesses were still to be questioned in the Holyland bribery scandal.

 

"This is an urgent and serious affair like no other. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said hundreds more witnesses are going to be interrogated in it," she told the Supreme Court in a hearing on the remand of the arrests of two main suspects in the case.

 

The court heard arguments Sunday on the appeals handed by Avigdor Kelner and Hillel Cherney to the District Court on the lengthy periods of time they had been ordered to remain in police custody.

 

Ben-Ari added that a significant amount of evidence had piled up on the suspects, and that investigators of the National Fraud Investigations Unit were doing their best to work quickly.

 

"We cannot fail in compiling evidence just because suspects were released too early. It is very clear to everyone that at this day and age it will be very difficult to supervise the suspects if they are released to house arrest," she said.

 

"The prosecution is supervising the case and checking the situation every day. I would ask that the appeals be denied."

 

But Cherney's attorney, Giora Aderet, said the investigation was about offenses committed from the mid-90s until 2006, and not crimes committed in the present day and halted because of the investigation. He said his client had been cooperative until he heard his arrest would be remanded by nine days, at which point he decided to remain silent.

 

"A man cannot remain lucid and functional after so many days of detainment. He cannot activate his senses properly and answer questions in a logical manner, and every mistake will harm him down the road," Aderet said.

 

Kelner's attorney, Eitan Maoz, said his client was having difficulty dealing with the six days of detainment the judge had ordered. "He cannot sit in interrogation every day from morning to night," he said.

 

Former Jerusalem mayor who replaced Ehud Olmert, Uri Lupolianski, is set to be released to house arrest later Sunday, under strict orders not to leave the country.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.18.10, 10:41
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