Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz
Photo: Ehud Zwigenberg
Police suspect Steinitz's primary campaign was funded by bribe money
State witness Miki Ganor tells police he was recruited by Steinitz's former chief of staff David Sharan to help the minister receive a prominent spot on the Likud Knesset list; he used fictitious donors to bypass laws limiting amount of money one donor can give.
Police suspect Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz's Likud primary campaign was funded by bribe money from state witness Miki Ganor
using fictitious donors, Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth have learned.
Police suspect Ganor funded a significant part of Steinitz's November 2012 primary campaign using fake donations transferred via fictitious donors in an effort to bypass funding laws that limit the amount of money one donor can give.
Ganor provided police with the information as part of the investigation into suspected corruption surrounding the purchase of submarines and patrol boats for the Israeli Navy from Germany, also known as Case 3000.
Senior officials in the Israel Police said Steinitz will likely be summoned to provide his testimony and might even be questioned under caution. Police Commission Roni Alsheikh is expected to decide on the matter.
Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
While it's still unclear whether Steinitz was aware of the money transfers or was involved in any wrongdoings, his name has popped up several times in recent months in connection with the investigation.
In September, several of Steinitz's close associates were questioned in connection with Case 3000, including businessman Gary Hakim, a Likud activist and relative of the minister, and Aviad Shai, Steinitz's former adviser. Steinitz's political adviser Rami Tayeb, meanwhile, was arrested on suspicion of facilitating bribes.
Miki Ganor (Photo: Raanan Ben Tzur)
According to new information the police received from Ganor, some of the bribe money Ganor allegedly paid went to Steinitz's primaries campaign, transferred via a complex, covert and illegal funding method.
David Sharan, who was Steinitz's former chief of staff at the Finance Ministry (and also Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's former chief of staff), allegedly recruited Ganor to aid in Steinitz's election.
Sharan was also arrested in September on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
David Sharan (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Sharan allegedly recruited these fictitious donors, using them as channels to transfer Ganor's illegal donations to Steinitz's campaign.
Police are investigating whether Ganor received anything in return for his donations.
All suspects have denied the allegations against them. Sharan's attorney declined to comment on Wednesday.
In the past, Steinitz said he was "shocked" by the reports against his close associates and denied having any connection to the affair. On Wednesday, his office said in response: "We have no idea what this is about."
