Legal office in submarine case suspected of destroying documents
Police suspect Attorney Ronen Shemer, who worked at Miki Ganor's office and who is currently under arrest, shredded documents pertinent to corruption case; Shemer denies allegations, as his remand is extended to Monday.
Israel Police now suspect that Attorney Ronen Shemer, who worked at the legal firm of Miki Ganor, shredded and removed documents pertaining to current police investigation focused on the allegedly corrupt submarine deal with German company Thyssenkrupp, in what is being referred to as "Case 3000." Shemer denied the allegations, as his remand in police custody was extended to Monday. He is now suspected of interfering with a police investigation.
The police also investigated Shemer over Ganor's overseas companies that are suspected of receiving funds without reporting it to the Israel Tax Authority. Shemer claimed that he is not required to report such funds, and that Ganor did not involve him in all of his business deals. Attorney Yael Grossman, representing Shemer, stated that "he is an employee of Ganor's and only performs technical work for him. He is not involved in his (Ganor's—ed) deal and has no interest in them. The police is acting to extend his arrest to receive information about other people's actions, though he himself has no partnership in them."
Earlier on Wednesday, it came to light that the police had forbidden German ship building company ThyssenKrup's representatives in Israel from being in contact with the company's headquarters. The order, discovered by Ynet on Wednesday, was the result of the investigation of several high-profile individuals in Israel, surrounding corruption allegations in Case 3000.
The police's instructions include Miki Ganor, another close associate Netanyahu's and a ThyssenKrup's official representative in Israel, whose remand has been extended until Thursday; Attorney Ronen Shemer, who worked for Ganor and whose remand has extended until Monday; Avriel Bar-Yosef, who served as the acting-national security advisor, whose remand has also been extended until Thursday; and former Navy commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Marom, who was put on house arrest on Tuesday.
Another person under investigation is Attorney David Shimron, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cousin and personal lawyer, who arrived early on Wednesday to be investigated for the third time, after being placed under house arrest on Monday. Attorney Amit Hadad, who is representing Shimron, gave a statement this morning. "despite the complicated situation, both personally and professionally, attorney Shimron feels relieved to a large extent to have finally been given the opportunity to present his full version to law enforcement authorities. Attorney Shimron has been acting in accordance with the law. He has fully cooperated with his investigators and is confident law enforcement authorities will reach the same conclusion." Shimron's house arrest was later extended until Friday.
The case came to light in November 2016, when it was reported police were investigating suspicions of tender bias in the procurement of submarines and patrol ships from ThyssenKrupp, bribery and a conflict of interest. Shimron had represented Ganor in two of ThyssenKrup's deals, which amount to some NIS 10 billion ($2.8 billion). Police suspect bribery and money laundering were a part of the deal between ThyssenKrup and Israel.
