The Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office announced on Sunday 11 Tammuz that N.G., A.L., M.P., D.T., A. and Y.B, Y.M. and M.E. may stand trial depending on the outcome of their pre-trial hearing in connection to alleged election fraud  for their alleged illegal actions on behalf of the Koach party that competed in the last municipal elections in Beit Shemesh and Moshe Abutbul who ran for reelection as mayor.

According to the indictment against them, on October 22, 2013, municipal Election Day, the defendants conspired to influence the outcome of the elections in the city. Their identity cards were given to others with the understand the others would disguise themselves and vote in their names. A place was designated to meet and hand over the identity cards. The imposters arrived and they were then off to vote. An apartment was arranged in advance where this occurred and on Election Day, when police raided the apartment, they found about 150 identity cards alongside clothing and other items to dress up imposters including wigs, beards and peyos. On each ID card there was a sticker with information directing the imposter to the correct voting station.

The result of the fraud resulted in new elections ordered by the court, which Mayor Abutbul emerged as victor as he did in the first elections. Following the hearing with the suspects, the prosecution will determine if the criminal indictment that is prepared is filed against the defendants or not.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

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