Police investigators have announced they are ready to issue initial indictment recommendations against FainaKirschenbaum, who has yet to be taken into custody thanks to her immunity as a member of Knesset. Police are investigating 15 separate affairs that are tied together by Kirschenbaum.
It was also announced that they recently discovered 13 million NIS in the bank account belonging to Yisrael Yehoshua, a lobbyist who works with Lieberman. Two million NIS was discovered in a bank account belonging to the primary suspect, Faina Kirschenbaum, the Assistant Minister of the Interior, who had been brought in for questioning at the offices of the “Blade 443″ unit and then released. The legal advisor to the government, Yehuda Vineshtein, requested from Ms Kirschenbaum to refrain from entering her office or the Ministry of the Interior for the 30 days, under suspicion that she might disturb or destroy evidence. This decision was arrived at in conjunction with the police and Ms Kirschenbaum has agreed to comply.
Police sources announced that Kirschenbaum’s parliamentary aide, Victoria Rabin, was among those arrested for obstruction after it became clear that the documents were destroyed and a number of files had been erased from the computer. It was conjectured that she operated under the orders of Kirschenbaum.
The investigation was opened a year ago, after incidents involving questionable appointments to government positions and budgetary pracitces. After this discovery, it was decided to open an undercover investigation.
Kirschenbaum, allegedly, also intervened in the distribution of internal funds of the Settlement Section, and ordered transfer of money to specific organizations and bodies, at her discretion. Attempts by the regional councils to prevent Kirschenbaum from these misappropriations and incorrect procedures were unsuccessful.
It was revealed yesterday that former Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov attempted to leave Israel earlier in the week, but was prevented from doing so by the Israel Police. Police extended the remands on several suspects, including Yair Geller, head of the Anti-Drug Authority. Police suspect Kirshenbaum of transferring large sums of money to the Anti-Drug Authority, which is allocated state funds, and then got back at least part of the money or other benefits Kirschenbaum demanded. One way of doing so was by acquiring advertising space in the Russian-language newspapers at a much higher price than it ordinarily cost. Geller was responsible for buying space in the newspapers for ads warning of the dangers of drugs.
Police are investigating the possibility that Kirschenbaum used Russian-language newspapers and polling companies to launder funds she received in the expanding bribery and money-laundering scandal involving members of the Yisrael Beiteinu party. Kirshenbaum allegedly demanded that the large sums of money she gave the authority be allocated for advertising in the Russian media.
Police are investigating whether the payment for the advertising space was inflated way beyond the price charged by other Russian-language papers. They suspect that part of the money ended up as cash in Kirshenbaum’s hands. They also suspect the money was used to buy favorable stories about Kirshenbaum and her party.
Kirshenbaum is also suspected of using public opinion polling companies for money. Among the suspects arrested in the scandal was Agriculture Ministry director-general Rami Cohen. His wife Batya was also arrested and subsequently released to house arrest.
Cohen is suspected of giving Kirshenbaum bribes in 2010, as well as taking bribes while serving as director general of the Agriculture Ministry. Cohen is also suspected of using his position as director general to facilitate bribes between other officials.
Police say some 30 suspects illegally allocated funds to non-sanctioned organizations and laundered money through a shell company. They are also accused of granting personal favors and appointing cronies as well as engaging in bribery as middlemen for Kirshenbaum.
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