Sharan and Sandberg
Photos: Amit Sha'al, Shaul Golan
Police working to have suspects in submarine affair dismissed from public roles
Former PMO chief of staff David Sharan, who holds senior position at Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company, and former minister Eliezer (Moodi) Sandberg, who chairs Keren haYesod, have been barred from their offices after their arrest, but as the ban order is about to expire, police and State Attorney's Office are looking for ways to keep them away from public service.
The Israel Police and the State Attorney's Office are working to have former PMO chief of staff David Sharan
and former minister Eliezer (Moodi) Sandberg
dismissed from their senior public positions in light of the serious suspicions against them in the submarine affair.
Representatives of the police and the State Attorney's Office held an urgent meeting on Monday to discuss how to have Sharan—who serves as the secretary general of the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company—and Sandberg—who serves as the chairman of Keren haYesod (United Israel Appeal)—removed from their public positions.
Police are investigating corruption suspicions surrounding the procurement of submarines and patrol ships for Israel's Navy from German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp.
David Sharan, left, and Moodi Sandberg, right (Photos: Amit Sha'al, Shaul Golan)
Businessman Miki Ganor, who was ThyssenKrupp's representative in Israel and later became the state witness in the case, has been providing investigators with information and documents that could incriminate different officials, including Sharan and Sandberg.
Ganor told police that he transferred some NIS 80,000 in cash to Sharan while the latter served as the prime minister's chief of staff to promote his business interests.
Ganor also told investigators he transferred NIS 100,000 to Sandberg for "consultation," so the latter would open doors for him at different state bodies to promote the submarine deal and other deals.
After their arrest, Sandberg and Sharan have been ordered to stay away from their offices, but Sandberg continues holding meetings at a hotel close to the organization's offices.
As their ban order is about to expire, police announced Monday they are vehemently against allowing the two to return to their public roles while the investigation is still ongoing. Police have prepared reports against the two and have sought the help of the State Attorney's Office on the matter.
The attorney general and the state attorney will have to decide on the matter.
Police raided the government offices of the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Sunday, combing through computers used by Sharan for hours.
"In light of the severity of the acts and the evidence we have, these senior public figures cannot return to their jobs as if nothing had happened," a senior law enforcement official said. "We will act with determination to keep the two from the public position they allegedly abused."
