After giving over eight hours of testimony to investigators of Israel Police’s Yahav 433 Unit, the state prosecutor decided Shula Zaken will not receive state witness status to testify against former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. It was believed that Zaken, Olmert’s long-time confidant and bureau chief would provide sufficient information to strengthen the state’s case against Olmert in exchange for a deal that would guarantee her a maximum jail term of one year.

The statement released following the state’s case read: “The prosecution’s decision was made by examining the circumstances and considering the various changes, including the advance stage of the cases involving Zaken…”

Zaken’s attorney Ofir Bartal said in response to the decision “The judiciary and the public were given a unique golden opportunity to expand and reveal all that happened in the vicinity of Zaken throughout her work. This opportunity was missed. Mrs. Zaken tried to expose the events involving others that she had witnessed. She extended her hand to the state but the latter refused it. It is our hope that this decision will change in the future in light of it being a wrong one.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)