The Attorney General’s Office for Taxation & Economics informed Mr. Moshe Leon’s attorney that the investigation file in his case had been closed in the absence of guilt.

In the course of the investigation into the case of Minister Aryeh Deri. There was suspicion that Leon illegally transferred money to Deri at a time prior to Deri holding a public position, accomplished via a company he owned. This was allegedly done in exchange for Deri’s subsequent support for Leon in the Jerusalem mayoral race in the October 2013 elections.

Following the investigation, the case was transferred to the State Prosecutor’s Office, which expressed its opinion that no evidentiary basis had been laid showing a criminal offense was committed by Leon in the matter.

The investigation material revealed that the funds were ostensibly transferred for legitimate reasons, before Deri returned to public life. In addition, the investigation found that Deri’s support for Leon was part of a broad support for his candidacy by the chareidi parties. In light of the above, the State Attorney’s Office decided to adopt the police recommendation and close the case against Moshe Leon on the grounds there is no evidence of law-breaking activity.

It should be noted that the decision in the matter of Leon was published even before a decision is made regarding all the suspects in the case in light of his candidacy for mayor of Jerusalem in the upcoming municipal elections.

Tax officials explain, “This circumstance justified the decision quickly and separately, while the investigative materials in his case indicated at this stage that the case against him would be closed, even though the general investigation into the affair, in which Minister Deri was suspected and other involved, has not yet ended”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)