Domrani’s lawyer: Prosecution has no case

Attorney says prosecution is trying to connect wire-tapped conversations, events but have little direct evidence to prove allegations.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Arrest [illustrative] 370 (photo credit: Nir Elias/Reuters)
Arrest [illustrative] 370
(photo credit: Nir Elias/Reuters)
In an extended hearing before the Beersheba District Court on whether alleged mob boss Shalom Domrani must remain in police custody during his trial, his lawyer argued that the prosecution has no case against him.
The prosecution presented an unusually extended analysis, trying to connect a large number of wire-tapped conversations and events, but had little direct evidence to prove its allegations – that Domrani threatened various rabbis and political players to convince them not to campaign in Netivot on municipal election day.
Domrani’s lawyer, Moshe Sherman, said that the evidence was flimsy and that there should be no case, but that the state simply wanted to bring a case against Domrani and had decided that “the ends justify the means” in doing so.
According to the indictment, Domrani threatened Rabbi Ya’acov Ifergan to get him to cease his support of Eyal Masika in the Netivot municipal elections, as part of a conspiracy with Ifergan’s rabbinic rival, Rabbi Yoram Abergil, to advance candidate Yehiel Zohar.
Domrani claims that he visited Ifergan to “make peace” or at Ifergan’s request, and the absence of “smoking gun” evidence to the contrary could allow Domrani to be freed from custody.