Katsav PI: I'm merely a cog in machine
Private investigator linked to Katsav witness harassment case unlicensed, has criminal record
Due to these new developments the former president and his family were questioned under caution over suspicions of witness harassment. Speaking to Ynet on Monday the "investigator" attempted to evade responsibility. "I'm just a small piece in this affair; tomorrow they will be wrapping fish in it."
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It is suspected that two private investigators were hired after the former president was convicted and before his appeal was filed with the Supreme Court.
Katsav today outside his home (Photo: Gadi Kablo)
Katsav, his brothers Lior and Yoram as well as his son Noam were questioned under warning for two hours on Sunday by the National Fraud Investigations Unit for witness harassment, tampering and invasion of privacy. Police are checking to what extent he was involved in the affair.
Speaking to Ynet, one of the suspects who has a long history of fraud convictions, denied that there was any connection between past offences and the current affair. "I work for a detective agency. I didn't take the job, it's not my work and my previous convictions have nothing to do with it. The proof being - I was released." According to the suspect, "I am merely a cog in the machine."
Yet in spite of his statements, Ynet has found that the suspect never received a private investigator license. Chairman of the bureau of private investigators', Adv. Danny Peretz said of the suspect: "Ten years he's walking around in the market, unprofessional that keeps getting into deeper trouble. He doesn't have a license and never did."
They are suspected of harassing one complainant, A. from the Tourism Ministry, her associate, a friend of one witness and a clerk working at the hotel where one of the rapes took place. The suspects were arrested over the weekend.
'No harassment'
Discussing the nature of his work in this case the suspect said: "I'm a former police officer and former police investigator and I specialize in the field of information mining and getting people to speak. I didn't accept the job; I didn't sign the agreements with the client. I didn't do anything. I was taken for my professionalism."
As for the suspicions that the investigators impersonated various people within the framework of their job, the investigator claims that "each inquiry is an impersonation. You can't work any other way.
"It doesn't matter if you're a criminal or not, if I approach a person and tell him I'm a private investigator, they'll throw me out. The question is was the cover story real or not. In this case, there was no fake documentation or anything; there was no harassment of the witness."
Attorney Alon Rapaport said: "We are glad that the police realized that my client's actions bear no criminal nature. I am convinced the investigation will not prove fruitful."
Naama Cohen-Friedman, Eli Senyor and Ahiya Raved contributed to the report
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