Earlier this week it was reported that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has decided to challenge the legitimacy of the mayoral elections in Beit Shemesh. Weinstein filed his case with the Jerusalem District Court in the hope of having the court disqualify the election and call for new elections.

As a result of Weinstein’s petition, the details of how the fraud was perpetrated have been revealed. The fraudulent election activity is attributed to the “Koach” (Kaf/Ches – Klall Chassidim) list in the city, which is affiliated with MK Meir Porush and family members. This is based on information presented to Weinstein and the court by the Jerusalem District Prosecutor.

Some of the evidence recovered by police following the arrest of Beit Shemesh residents includes;

1. Wigs, hats, eyeglasses in the apartment that was raided

2. Notes saying “the identity cards must be returned to us no later than…”

3. Pieces of paper containing voting station numbers and addresses

4. Notes with voting instructions and the number of the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s office

5. A Skoda (brand of vehicle) was stopped. The driver, dressed as a chareidi was apprehended as he was trying to dump 8 identity cards and a passport into a garbage can. A search of that vehicle by police turned up an additional 31 ID cards.

6. Police recovered over 160 ID cards of which 36 were used to vote with prior to the raid.

All of those arrested trace back to the Koach list. Weinstein’s evidence includes the driver of the Skoda, who signed an affidavit that he worked during the days before the election to get ID cards from people who were not able or eligible to vote.

The prosecution told the court there was a second apartment used by Koach activists in the election fraud too. The WhatsApp program was used to permit “a large group” of activists to communicate with one another towards perpetrating the election fraud.

At least seven poll watchers documented cases in which they apprehended an attempt by imposters to vote using another’s ID card. This includes a voting station in the Nachlah U’Menuchah neighborhood in Beit Shemesh.

In response to Weinstein’s petition to the court MK Moshe Gafne stated the attorney general’s actions are “politically motivated” adding “Instead of responding to us in many cases brought to him regarding discrimination against chareidim he is busying himself with this.”

MK Yaakov Litzman concurred, adding “Weinstein’s actions carry more than a hint of being politically motivated.”

Shas leader Aryeh Deri echoed their words, accusing Weinstein of being less than genuine in his decision to appeal the election outcome.

Mayor (Shas) Moshe Abutbul beat his opponent, Eli Cohen, by 956 votes.

AS WE GO TO PRINT:

The Jerusalem District Court agreed to hear the petitions against the elections from Eli Cohen and Attorney General Weinstein. The date for the hearing was set for December 10, 2013 before a three-justice panel, Justices David Cheshin, Moshe Sobel and Yigal Marzel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)