Bribes? (Illustration)
Photo: Reuters
Ex-IDF attaché in Switzerland charged with accepting bribes
Indictment says Colonel (Res.) Shmuel Avivi promoted business of Swiss arms dealer in Israel in exchange for lucrative perks, including vehicle, salary for his wife
Colonel (Res.) Shmuel Avivi, the former IDF attaché in Switzerland, was indicted Monday for breach of trust and accepting bribes.
The Tel Aviv District Prosecutor's Office filed the indictment with the Tel Aviv District Court. Avivi served as military attaché to Switzerland between 2002 and 2005. In this capacity, Avivi headed the Mission of the Ministry of Defense and was in charge of marketing Israeli-made military products to Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
According to the indictment, Avivi helped Swiss arms dealer Heinrich Thomet expand his business in Israel and market his military products without authorization from his superiors. Avivi initially asked Thomet to help market Israeli military equipment to security elements in Switzerland.
In exchange for his assistance, Avivi and his wife received a number of perks. Talon, a company Thomet helped establish, gave Avivi a cell phone and paid his bill. His wife, Osnat received a Toyota Land Cruiser worth NIS 326,191 (about $89,000) from the company, and in August 2005, she was falsely registered as a Talon employee and was paid NIS 101, 450 (some $ 28,000) in salaries.
In October 2005, two months after Avivi's term as military attaché ended, he was appointed Talon CEO.
The indictment said Avivi's actions constitute breach of trust, adding that he had "accepted bribes in exchange for activity related to his job (as military attaché)."
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