Yesh Atid MK gives testimony in Yisrael Beytenu corruption case

On Monday, Yisrael Beytenu MK Shimon Ohayon gave testimony to police regarding the corruption case, but like Toporovsky, he was not questioned under caution.

By BEN HARTMAN
Yesh Atid MK Boaz Toporovsky (photo credit: FACEBOOK)
Yesh Atid MK Boaz Toporovsky
(photo credit: FACEBOOK)
Yesh Atid MK Boaz Toporovsky was called to give testimony to police investigators about the so-called “Yisrael Beytenu” corruption case” Yesh Atid confirmed on Tuesday.
Responding to reports that an MK from the party had been called in to give testimony, Yesh Atid said Toporovsky “is not involved in the Yisrael Beytenu case and was called to give assistance and information to police about the management of the Tourism Ministry in 2010, when he was serving as the head of the National Student Union.”
The corruption affair involves at least 15 smaller cases, including one that deals with the Tourism Ministry and allegations of bribery involving former tourism minister and Yisrael Beytenu MK Stas Meseznikov. Many of the suspects in the case are associated with the party, including Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirschenbaum.
Toporovsky was called in by police to provide information about the production of the Student Union festival in Eilat in 2010, when Toporovsky was head of the union. A State Comptroller’s Report in 2013 found shortcomings in how the Tourism Ministry funded a series of events during Meseznikov’s time in office, in particular with the Eilat festival, which was produced by an associate of the former minister, who won the tender. The discrepancies in the funding of the festival were first reported by Channel 10 in 2011 and Meseznikov was questioned by police about the funding back in September.
On Monday, Yisrael Beytenu MK Shimon Ohayon gave testimony to police regarding the corruption case, but like Toporovsky, he was not questioned under caution.
It is police policy not to comment on the questioning of people in investigations unless they are public figures, and then only if it is under caution, meaning that they are being interviewed as potential suspects.
An Israel Police representative denied reports that a person of interest in the case has fled the country and is believed to be in Ukraine or elsewhere.
The representative added that police are not investigating any such disappearance and that any person of interest in the case is free to leave the country unless there is a court order banning him or her from travel.