BREAKING NEWS

Dankner to be released Sunday; Police await Zaken's return

APRIL 24, 2010 23:45

The National Fraud Unit will likely release former Bank Hapoalim Chairman Dan Dankner on Sunday, who was arrested last week on suspicion of paying a million and half shekels in bribes to former Israel Lands Authority head Yaakov Efrati in order to ensure that industrial land he owned in Atlit could be converted into profitable real estate developments.

Dankner, former owner of Israel Salt Industries, was arrested with Efrati after the state's witness in the Holyland real estate bribery investigation directed police to allegedly incriminating documents showing how property developer Meir Rabin allegedly mediated between Dankner and Efrati and passed on bribe money.

Rabin is also suspected of acting as a central intermediary in the Holyland affair, allegedly linking businessman Hillel Charni with senior officials in the Jerusalem Municiaplity and passing on bribes to ensure that an enlarged Holyland property development received approval.

Should police release Dankner on Sunday, the development would suggest that he is cooperating with detectives during interrogation sessions.

Meanwhile, the National Fraud Unit is preparing to arrest and interrogate Shula Zaken, former bureau head of ex-premier Ehud Olmert. Zaken is suspected of handling bribes in the Holyland affair.

Police are likely to call Zaken in for questioning at the National Fraud Unit headquarters in Lod, and arrest her at the police station, rather than carry out the arrest at Ben Gurion Airport upon Zaken's arrival.

During the weekend, National Fraud Unit detectives spent many hours on paperwork connected with the Holyland investigation.

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