Meir Rabin
Photo: Dudu Azulay
A key suspect in the Holyland bribe scandal, Meir Rabin,
was released from a 34-day detainment to house arrest Sunday.
Rabin was ordered to post bail, leave his passport with the police, and retire to his home for 20 days. He has also been prohibited to give interviews to the press.
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The National Fraud Investigation Unit suspects Rabin had a major role in the Holyland case, in which senior officials in the Jerusalem Municipality were allegedly bribed in order to approve the realty project.
Rabin is suspected of approaching influential officials with the illicit proposals and transferring bribe money to them from the Holyland entrepreneurs.
Police consider Rabin a wellspring of evidence and have made every effort to turn him into a state witness, including enlisting officers from other departments known for their ability to convince suspects to testify.
However Rabin has maintained a staunch silence during questioning and refuses to cooperate with interrogators. In some cases he reportedly used earplugs in order to keep from hearing their questions. After numerous remands of his arrest, police decided to release him.
Rabin has been prohibited to discuss the investigation with the press or any related person. His attorneys said in a statement that a "dead end" had been reached in his interrogation.
"On one hand they cannot issue an indictment against him and an order for detainment until the proceedings against him terminate, and on the other hand he is maintaining his right to remain silent and the police cannot enlist him as a state witness. We commend the police's decision to release him," the statement said.