Israeli Police announced on Sunday that they are recommending that charges be brought against Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Meir Turgeman, who is suspected of carrying out acts of public corruption. The recommendation includes bringing to trial numerous other suspects who are involved in the incidents outlined.

The police investigation dealt with numerous cases in which it is suspected that Deputy Mayor Turgeman acted in a manner that goes against the law and accepted bribes, committed fraud and acts that connoted breaches of trust as well as one act of theft by an unauthorized party. From the findings of the police investigation, they believe that it is provable that Deputy Mayor Turgeman committed these acts and accepted kindnesses that are equitable to money in return for furthering the interests of others.

The police wrote in their announcement: “Upon concluding our investigation, the investigative department of the police believe that they have gathered enough evidence against Deputy Mayor Turgeman and others, each one according to the role that they played in the examined cases, in order to base the claim that Turgeman was involved in giving and accepting bribes, committing fraud and acts that connoted breaches of trust as well as an  act of theft by an unauthorized party.

The national unit for investigating fraud known as Lahav 433, conducted the investigation in conjunction with the investigative department of the Tax Authority with the oversight of the District Attorney in charge of taxation and finance. The case files will now be handed over to the District Attorney’s office for investigation and a final decision regarding whether or not Turgeman will be charged.

Attorney Eitan Peleg who is representing Turgeman said: “Meir Turgeman is convinced that he is innocent and stands by his own innocence. We are certain that when the District Attorney looks over this case that they will find no misdeeds in his actions. With regards to Mayors and Deputy Mayors of other cities, it was decided not to press charges. We are confident that such will be the case here as well.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)