Jerusalem Councilman Moshe Leon is among the 14 persons close to Aryeh Deri to be questioned in by police of the 443 Lahav Unit. Leon is a former director-general of the Ministry of Galil & Negev Development, which is directly connected to allegations of tax evasion against Deri, who is currently Minister of that ministry along with serving as Interior Minister.

After hours of questioning, Leon explained he cooperated totally with police and responded to all questions. He added he was not asked or does he have any question to the matters appearing in the media. He stressed questioned were directed only to a period during which Deri was a private businessman.

Police in recent months have been checking and monitoring bank accounts maintained by Deri and his brother, and some of the persons questioned are connected to family real estate dealings.

Former Shas party leader Eli Yishai was interviewed by Galei Yisrael Radio on Thursday, 4 Nissan, asked to comment on the latest police probe against Deri. Yishai responded “I prefer not to address this at the moment. We are busy with municipal elections and working with all our might”.

Deri is Yishai’s political nemesis, grabbing control of Shas from him after over a decade of a hiatus from politics due to his bribery conviction, three-year jail term, and seven-year cooling down period mandated by the law before being permitted to return to public life.

HaGaon HaRav Bentzion Mutzafi commented on Deri being questioned, explaining “He is a shaliach of Gedolei Hador and the hate of ‘amei haaretz’ for Bnei Torah is well known, and they are rooting for his fall chas v’sholom”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)