In a newspaper interview after leaving office, former Israeli Attorney General Manny Mezouz states: [ xxv ]
...the worst corruption scandal is the one in the Tax Authority... it is the closest to organized crime...
In a dramatic courtroom session in May 2014, the Tax Authority corruption scandal came up in the sentencing hearing of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's personal secretary Shula Zaken. The case was unrelated to the Tax Authority corruption scandal, but in an effort to reduce her prison sentence, Ms Zaken entered a last-minute plea bargain. In reviewing the new evidence, provided by Zaken, Judge David Rosen emphasized the new evidence pertaining to the Tax Authority scandal, stating it was "shocking". [ xxvi ]
Overall, the case of Rafi Rotem and the Tax Authority scandal also confirms the assessment of US Ambassador James Cunningham in a cable, published by Wikileaks -- merger of organized crime and state authorities in Israel. [ xxvii ]
Mr Rotem now faces frivolous criminal prosecution for insulting public officers and abuse of telecommunications lines
None of the police that have been involved in the repeat false detentions of Mr Rotem has been disciplined or prosecuted. Regardless, in January 2013 the Tel Aviv Police filed criminal charges against Mr Rotem in the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court. The charges include insulting and harassing public officers, relative to words Mr Rotem used during his numerous false detentions, as well as abuse of telecommunications lines, relative to faxes and phone calls to public officers, demanding justice in his case. [ xxviii , xxix ]
In a prior effort to incriminate Mr Rotem, complaint of a murder threat by Mr Rotem was filed by a co-worker. However, the same person denied the same claims in police investigation. [ xxx ]
The current criminal case against Mr Rotem is assigned to Judge Yael Perdalsky, a former Israel police prosecutor. Previously, complaints were filed against her by others, for ruling in favor of police without any basis in the law. [ xxxi ]
Even without such bias, the rate of conviction in criminal prosecutions in Israel is around 95%, and Mr Rotem is relying on a public defender for lack of funds.
Therefore, Mr Rotem will most likely be convicted and imprisoned.
I am not an attorney, but I am informed and believe that the maximum sentence on each count of insulting and harassing public officers can be as long as three years in prison. Given the numerous counts brought against Mr Rotem, any attempt to estimate the prison term would be a guess.
The prosecution of Mr Rotem resembles the false prosecution of Social Protest activists
Over the past couple of years, the the Tel Aviv police attempted to prosecute Social Protest leader Daphni Leef and other activists on false charges of violence against police. The prosecutions were eventually aborted only after it became apparent that police were lying on the stand, and video footage showed police violence against the protesters. [ xxxii ]
Request for help
In this latest phase of harassment, intimidation and retaliation, Mr Rotem, a whistle-blower of corruption in the highest levels of the Israeli government, is facing a frivolous criminal prosecution and is likely to become a political prisoner.
On behalf of the Rafi Rotem support team, I write to ask that Amnesty International monitor the criminal prosecution of Rafi Rotem, and, if imprisoned, act for his expedient release.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
