MK David Bitan indicted for bribery, corruption
Member of Knesset (MK) David Bitan, of the Likud party, was indicted on Tuesday on suspicion of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust he allegedly committed during his tenure as a council member in the Rishon Lezion municipality and as a Member of Knesset.
MK David Bitan
Two years after commencing with an investigation, Attorney General Avicahi Mandelblit approved the indictment.
According to the indictment, Bitan received bribes in the amount of NIS 715,000 in seven different cases, and also committed additional corruption offences.
“In return for the benefits, Bitan worked to advance their interests, as part of his public duties, while taking advantage of his status, connections and influence in local government and government ministries,” Mandelblit wrote.
One of Bitan’s former associates, known only as M.Y., is now a state witness.
“Between the two, there was a long-term criminal partnership, in which Bitan received from M.Y. various services, including money laundering, providing a line of credit and various personal services,” the indictment said.
Attorneys Dror Matityahu, Sharon Kahana and Ephraim Damari, representing MK David Bitan, stated that Bitan “has always acted in accordance with the law and has never received funds or benefits for actions related to his position as a public servant.”
“All the decisions he made, as part of his public duties, were substantive decisions, on the basis of professional judgment, with the public interest in his eyes and that alone. Once the evidence and allegations are exposed, the fog will dissipate and a completely different picture will be revealed than the one presented,” he said.
