The state witness in the Holyland trial admitted to initially lying to
the police and to inventing people involved in the scheme who did not even exist
to try to convince other defendants to join him in turning state's witness, he
testified in Tel Aviv District Court on Monday.
Monday marked a new stage
of the trial as the defense began cross-examining S.D., as he is known under a
gag order.
Hillel Cherny's attorney, Giora Aderet, was the first to
cross-examine S.D. Cherny, according to S.D., was the lead investor and
benefactor in the Holyland scheme and directed his actions in terms of who S.D.
would bribe and how high the bribes would be.
The Holyland trial involves
allegations of bribery against 16 defendants, including former prime minister
Ehud Olmert, for moving forward a major real estate project in Jerusalem where
the Holyland hotel used to stand, even as the project violated numerous zoning
and building laws.
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