Danziger heading back to Supreme Court
Police decides to dismiss conflict of interest probe against presiding judge, paving way for him to return to the bench
The police on Monday recommended that the case against Supreme Court Judge Yoram Danziger be dismisses, as no evidence was found against him.
It is likely that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein will concur with the police's decision and dismiss the case as well.
Danziger first came under suspicion of having a criminal conflict of interest in his dealings with Bat Yan Mayor Shlomi Lahiani in January. The alleged conflict of interest was believed to have taken place prior to Danziger's nomination to the Supreme Court.
Lahiani himself is facing a criminal indictment for bribery, fraud, breach of trust and money laundering.
Danziger had the dubious honor of becoming Israel's first ever Supreme Court judge to be questioned under advisement by the police. Once he learned of the investigation against him, Danziger announced that he would be taking a leave of absence pending the investigation's conclusion.
Senior legal sources told Ynet that the decision to dismiss the case was not harmonious within the police, saying that the investigative team said the case should be closed for lack of evidence, while Police Investigations and Intelligence Division Commander Maj-Gen Yoav Segalovich decided to dismiss it for "lack of guilt."
The difference, according to top legalists, is pivotal: Closing the case for lack of guilt would enable Danziger to resume his seat on the bench, while lack of evidence may subject him to a future investigation and create public pressure against his post in the Supreme Court.
Sources in the State Prosecutor's Office said that while most in the Prosecutor's Office supported dismissing the case for either reason, some still believe Danziger's infraction was sever enough to warrant an indictment. The AG is, however, likely to adopt Segalovich's view on the case.
Danziger's associates told Ynet that the judge was "cautiously optimistic" and looking forward to resuming his duties in court.
"Yoram knew all along that he did nothing wrong and that he would return to the bench. He is the victim of an unjust, public lynching. We hope that the AG will dismiss the case very soon," an associate of the judge said.
Eli Senyor contributed to this report
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