Shimron and Ganor
Photo: Oriel Cohen and Ohad Zwigenberg
Ganor accuses Shimron of obstruction of justice
State witness Ganor says Shimron, who he claims was due to receive 20% commission for his role in promoting the submarine deal, tried to dissuade him from revealing that fact to police investigators.
Attorney David Shimron
State witness Miki Ganor,
told police investigators that shortly after the submarine affair
came to light, Attorney David Shimron met with him and tried to dissuade Ganor from telling the truth to the police.
According to Ganor, he met with Shimron at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Jerusalem after the affair made headlines but before police launched an official investigation into suspicions of corruption surrounding the acquisition of submarines and patrol boats for the Israeli Navy from German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp.
Ganor claimed Shimron, who is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cousin and personal lawyer, carried out a series of actions that constitute an obstruction of justice.
Miki Ganor, left, and David Shimron (Photo: Yuval Hen, Orel Cohen)
Police investigators arrived at the Jerusalem hotel to gather evidence and ascertain such a meeting between the two had indeed taken place.
According to Ganor, Shimron's motivation to complete the deal was based on his receiving payment for his legal services in the matter, with Shimron supposedly due to get an additional 20 percent of Ganor's commission after the deal was signed.
"After the affair made headlines, Shimron was stressed. He asked to see me," Ganor told his investigators. "During the meeting, told me, 'It's lucky we didn't sign a deal with a 20 percent commission.'"
He went on to say that Shimron "was afraid of the investigation and asked that were I to be called (to testify—ed), that I not tell (the police) he was due an additional 20 percent of what was paid for the submarines."
Ganor also presented investigators with documents showing that after the Germans transferred 10 million euros, some of those involved in the affair demanded their share for their help in promoting the deal.
Shimron has maintained there was no signed contract between him and Ganor in which the two agreed he would receive a 20 percent commission. Ganor, meanwhile, insists such an agreement was being discussed and supposed to be signed.
Shimron denied having met with Ganor at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem, while Ganor has kept insisting the meeting did take place.
Shimron did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this story.
