Former Deputy Minister of Health (Yahadut Hatorah) MK Yaakov Litzman was summoned by police for questioning in an investigation alleging he intervened to obtain disabled parking permits and status for two people. It has been learned that of the two, one is not chareidi and the person in question was not a friend or known to Litzman prior to receive the request for assistance.

That person came to Litzman’s office seeking help, explaining the Ministry of Health’s Medical Institute for Road Safety was running him around and preventing him from obtaining the “disabled” designation despite being entitled to it. It has also been learned that the Ministry of Health unit has been under police investigation amid corruption allegations for quite some time. It appears that Litzman’s actions are suspect since he bypassed the unit to assist the two.

Police point out that Litzman was questioned regarding the granting of permits against the decision of the institute and he is not suspect in alleged institute corruption, the subject of the lengthy ongoing police investigation.

Persons close to Litzman call the entire matter “bizarre”, explaining it is known that he despises bureaucracy and in this case, he could no longer tolerate the “hard hearts” of the bureaucrats from the Health Ministry institute who failed to act appropriately and issue the permits which the disabled persons are entitled to. They question why such a person is summoned to police and questioned as if he committed a crime.

While Litzman declined to address the matter, one of the persons assisted by Litzman told BaKehilla that he could not obtain the ‘handicapped’ designation he was entitled to and after becoming totally frustrated by the brick wall from the Health Ministry, he turned to Litzman for assistance.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)