Suspect in sub probe admits to funneling cash to PM's former cabinet chief
Tzachi Lieber tells investigators he transferred thousands of shekels received from state witness Miki Ganor to Netanyahu's former bureau chief David Sharan for services never provided, raising suspicion money was used as a bribe: ‘I am prepared to confront David Sharan on this.’
In the latest development on the affair, also known as Case 3000 involving the scandal-ridden purchasing of Israeli vessels from the German submarine company ThyssenKrupp, Lieber said he was willing confront Sharan directly on the claim that such a transfer was made on two occasions which he currently denies.
When his interrogators pressed him on why Ganor paid the money to Lieber's media consultancy firm and to his business partner and strategic advisor Nati Mor, Lieber admitted that no strategic advice was given to Ganor in return.
“We didn’t provide a service for Ganor, I transferred the money to Sharan,” Lieber told his investigators, raising further suspicion that the money had been funneled as a front in its use for other purposes.
Despite his willingness to talk to Sharan on the issue, Lieber also pointed out that the two had been good friends, implying the transfer, from his viewpoint, was simply an innocuous favor.
“The bottom line is that I did a good thing for a friend,” Lieber said as he explained to investigators the lump sums were transferred in cash.
Asked to account for Sharan’s denial that any such transfers were made, Lieber doubled down, telling his interrogators: “I am telling the truth. I am prepared to confront David Sharan on this.”
Lieber’s testimony also corroborated that provided by Ganor positing that Sharan did indeed take the money.
'Tzachi, I told them everything'
After giving his testimony, Lieber ceased cooperating with the investigators. At this point, for the first time since he became a state witness, Miki Ganor was brought by the police to confront a suspect—Tzachi Lieber, who used to be a good friend of Ganor before the affair.
"Tzachi, I told them everything. Now tell them yourself," Ganor pleaded with Lieber, but he refused to cooperate any further.
According to the details, Ganor transferred the cash to Lieber and Mor’s business in the amount of NIS 28,000 plus VAT. On another occasion, NIS 50,000 were transferred plus VAT. Excluding the VAT Lieber claimed all the money ended up in Sharan’s pockets.
A breakthrough was made in the investigation when on Thursday Lieber’s defense attorneys admitted on his behalf during court discussions regarding the extension of his remand that he transferred money to Sharan from Ganor.
