Uri Lupolianski
Photo: Avi Moalem
Eliyahu Hasson
Photo: Dudu Azulay
Lupolianski released to house arrest
Former Jerusalem mayor, suspected of accepting bribes in Holyland affair, released to house arrest, allowed to leave only for medical examinations for next 10 days
Uri Lupolianski, former mayor of Jerusalem who is suspected of receiving a bribe in the Holyland affair, was released to full house arrest Sunday by the Rishon Lezion Magistrates' Court for 10 days, as was concluded Saturday.
Lupolianski will not be allowed to leave the country, but received permission to leave his Jerusalem home for medical examinations only. He has been forbidden to contact municipal offices, as well as Yad Sarah, the medical equipment volunteer organization he founded and into which he allegedly funneled bribe funds he received from the Holyland construction companies.
Lupolianski's family members arrived in court, but declined to speak with the media.
As was agreed upon Sunday morning, Eliyahu Hasson, the comptroller of the company that built the Holyland real estate project, was released to full house arrest as well. He is suspected of disguising bribes as other expenses. The court forbade him to make contact with anyone other than his lawyer or family. He posted NIS 100,000 (about $27,000) bail.
Hasson's lawyer, Attorney Gil Friedman, said Sunday, "He said he was happy to be a State witness, just that he doesn't have any information to pass on. During the investigation, they showed him documents which were signed by 'E.O' (checks allegedly intended for Ehud Olmert), but he had no idea what they were."
Attorney Friedman spoke in the Supreme Court, where he continued his appeal against his client's remand following the agreement with the police. During this hearing, a representative of the State Prosecution said, "This is a grave and urgent case that has no parallel. I would not be exaggerating if I said that hundreds more witnesses are slated to be investigated."
