Resignation was triggered by allegations of consorting with a well-known attorney embroiled in corruption charges.
By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Amid allegations of consorting with a well-known attorney embroiled in corruption charges, Israel Police Central District commander Asst.- Ch. Bruno Stein announced his resignation on Wednesday.The abrupt move came on the heels of a Haaretz article claiming that Stein – once considered a leading candidate to succeed police commissioner Insp.-Gen. Yohanan Danino – had been seen at a private party at the home of attorney Ronel Fisher, who is under investigation for bribing multiple police officials to drop charges against him.According to reports, Fisher asked Ashdod Port Union chief Alon Hassan – the target of corruption investigations himself – for the financing necessary to carry out the alleged bribes.At the party, Haaretz reported, Stein and Fisher sat next to each other while nursing drinks.Following publication of the damning article, Danino accepted Stein’s resignation, though Stein will remain on duty until a successor is named. In the meantime, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch will oversee an investigation into the affair.A statement that police released Thursday acknowledged the resignation, but claimed that Stein had been open about his association with Fisher, whom he had known for “many years.”Hassan reportedly gave $150,000 to Fisher, who was arrested shortly after agreeing to take the money in exchange for ensuring a pending investigation against Hassan was summarily dismissed.