Key suspect in Bezeq affair released to house arrest
New judge in Case 4000 releases former Bezeq strategy advisor Eli Kamir to house arrest for a week; attorney's bid for shorter arrests, citing damaging impact on Kamir's business, rejected.
Kamir's remand was extended by five days earlier this week for his "substantial role" in the Bezeq Affair involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which has raised suspicion that the communications company’s majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch enjoyed benefits for his firm in return for granting the prime minister and his family favorable coverage on his Walla! News website, which is fully owned by Bezeq.
Kamir is also involved in Case 1270 (concerning the alleged offer to appoint Judge Gerstel to attorney general in return for closing investigations against Sara Netanyahu—ed).
“We reached an agreement on a few things,” said Kamir’s defense attorney. “I request that the house arrest is reduced. He is an owner of a business and he has many customers who need him, and his absence for such an extensive period is damaging.”
Judge Alaa Masarwa, who replaced Judge Ronit Poznanski-Katz after it emerged that she had been engaged in legal misconduct regarding the main suspects’ remand, decided however, that Kamir would remain under house arrest for a week.
“In the previous hearing, I determined the existence of reasonable suspicion regarding this suspect,” Masarwa said, adding that Kamir was forbidden from making any contact with individuals involved in the case for three months, except his business partner.
Masarwa also said that Kamir was not allowed near Bezeq offices for 45 days.
The decision comes two days after the Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court extended the remand of Shaul Elovitch, former advisor to the Netanyahu family Nir Hefetz and Kamir.
On Tuesday, an appeal filed by the defense attorneys for Elovitch and Hefetz against the Monday decision to keep them in custody until next Sunday was rejected Tuesday afternoon by judge Yossi Topf.
