Daughter of State witness: Forgive us for allowing you to testify
Central witness in Holyland case laid to rest Sunday, two days after he passed away. Entire prosecution team attends funeral. Daughter laments father and states, 'They shortened your life'
The funeral of the State’s witness in the Holyland case was held Sunday at a cemetery in Herzliya. The man’s daughter lamented her father and commented on the affair. “Instead of focusing on finding the truth, they focus on lies. They abandoned you and shortened your life.”
The daughter described the period prior to the trial. “You gathered us a few days ago and said you wanted to turn State’s witness. You said, 'This will be my modest contribution, to tell how things are done.' You requested our agreement. I am so sorry that I agreed. Forgive us for allowing you.”
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The daughter called on the prosecution to continue its efforts and sent a message to presiding judge David Rozen, “Do not allow them to disrupt your judgment.” She added, “People are evil, many of them are heartless. Our country has become one that devours its inhabitants.”
Defendant Meir Rabin at funeral (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
About her father she said, “You believed people and helped everyone,” and in regard to the last few years added, “Everyone forgot you and no one came to visit, because you had nothing left to give, there was nothing to wring out of you.”
More than 100 people attended the funeral. In addition to friends and family, in attendance were the prosecution team, including Liat Ben-Ari, attorney in the State Prosecutor's Office bureau on tax and financial matters; and the man’s lawyer, Amnon Yitzhakni.
In addition, bodyguards from the National Fraud Investigation Unit who had accompanied the witness during the trial, also attended the service, as did defendant Meir Rabin, who had been the man's close associate.
The State’s witness died Friday at the age of 75, hours after testifying in court regarding the Holyland case, where one of the defendants is former prime minister Ehud Olmert. The man apparently died of heart failure, after suffering from health issues, which were evident during his court appearances. His identity remains protected.
Early Friday morning, the State’s witness felt ill while resting at home, and family members called for an ambulance. Paramedics preformed CPR and transported him in critical condition to Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, where he was pronounced dead.
Attorney Amon Yitzhakni, the man’s attorney, made a statement after his death describing the man’s last day in the courtroom as difficult. “He collapsed (after testifying), he returned home and called his family crying,” Yitzhakni said. “At four am he woke up feeling ill. He was taken to Ichilov Hospital, and there he passed away.”
Details of the State witness' agreement were recently publicized, showing that the man was slated to receive at least NIS 2 million (about $540,000) for his testimony against those involved in the case..
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