When Israel Police announced there is sufficient evidence to bring a criminal indictment against Minister Aryeh Deri on corruption and other charges, Deri was quick to tell the media that police are not indicting him on more serious crimes that were alleged, and he is confident he will not be found guilty of these allegations either.

The case built by Israel Police Major Crimes Unit investigators working with Tax Authority inspectors is a serious one, documenting that Deri earned a cool NIS 2 million by not paying taxes as he should, Yediot Achronot reported on Thursday, 14 Kislev.

According to the report, the scope of the deals investigated against Deri, in which he is suspected of tax offenses, amount to about NIS 8 million. Deri should have paid about NIS 2 million in taxes, but he did not.

Shas officials are confident that the case will end without an indictment. “Even if the amounts in question are correct, and I believe Deri is too wise to make such mistakes, the case will end without an indictment, but with payment of the sum B’ezras Hashem” a senior unnamed Shas official is quoted saying.

After the recommendations to the State Prosecutor by Israel Police were announced, HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita, head of the Shas Moetzas Gedolei Torah, spoke with Deri and told him, “The more successful Shas is, the more those who oppose Torah pursue us more. Don’t be afraid and don’t fear, for Hashem is with you”.

Police turned over its findings to the State Attorney in the beginning of the week, with a recommendation to file a multicount criminal indictment against Deri. Suggested charges include suspicion of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust as police stated an evidentiary case has been built against the minister.

The message to the media from Deri’s office states, “We welcome the end of the police investigation, which lasted almost three years, and we received with satisfaction the denial of the serious suspicions of accepting bribes, theft from NGOs and more that led to the opening of the investigation. Minister Aryeh Deri did not break the law”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)