The Attorney General’s Office announced that it has annulled the partial immunity deal of Miki Ganor, one of its key state witnesses in Case 3000 – the “Submarines Affair” – dismissing him and his testimony.
The cancellation of the immunity deal on Tuesday precludes the investigation from using any evidence gathered prior to or after the signing of the agreement, including Ganor’s own messages against himself.
Ganor had violated the state’s agreement by submitting various versions of his story shortly after signing. Furthermore, after nearly two years of being the lead cooperating witness against the list of prominent suspects in the case, he recanted part of his testimony. Additionally, Ganor is said to have asked to exercise his right to remain silent, an action that in and of itself violates his obligations under the agreement.
Under his deal, Ganor would have served only one year in prison and paid a NIS 10 million fine. Without the deal, he may face several years in prison – and additional millions he has overseas may face seizure.
Ganor is the former sales representative of Thyssenkrupp Israel, a German company involved with selling nuclear submarines to Israel. While working with the police as a state’s witness, Ganor had admitted to having a major role in perpetrating a bribery and fraud scheme, in which he and top officials close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and in the defense establishment skimmed off the top of the submarine deal.
Netanyahu himself is not a suspect in the case.
In late March, Ganor was released to house arrest by the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court while a decision about his status was being considered.
He had cooperated with prosecutors since July 2017.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.