2023-12-08 16:40:28
Israeli Government Spends Hundreds of Thousands in Public Funds to Investigate Billionaire Arnon Milchan in England
The Israeli government has spent approximately NIS 340,000 of public funds to investigate billionaire Arnon Milchan in England as part of the publishers’ trial, and may add an additional NIS 70,000 at the request of the defendants’ attorneys. This information was provided by the Ministry of Justice to the Success Association, following a request for Freedom of Information filed by attorney Elad Man.
Milchan, a tycoon with a past in the Israeli intelligence services who became a Hollywood producer, has been accused of showering Benjamin and Sarah Netanyahu with favors over many years, with an aggregate value of hundreds of thousands of shekels. According to the indictment in the case known as “Case 1000”, in which Prime Minister Netanyahu is accused of fraud and breach of trust, the Prime Minister assisted Milchan in a number of cases, including extending the validity of his visa to the US and promoting a business venture with the Indian businessman Rattan Tata.
In January 2017, after giving evidence to the police, Milchan left Israel and never returned, even refusing to appear at the District Court in Jerusalem to testify at the trial. The prosecutor’s office requested and received exceptional permission to investigate the billionaire in England, his place of residence in recent years.
The state financed two trips to England for the investigation, including the cost of flights, accommodations, and legal expenses. The cost of the investigation, including the travel costs of both prosecution and defense attorneys, as well as production equipment for the online investigation, totaled approximately NIS 340,000. Additionally, there is a request from the defense attorneys for an additional NIS 70,000 to cover expenses related to the case.
The Ministry of Justice’s response also detailed the breakdown of expenses, including the cost of flights, hotels, and additional expenses such as rental of hotel halls, multimedia, and transportation to and from the airport. The exact reasoning for the defense attorneys’ request for an additional NIS 70,000 has not been clarified.
The total cost of Milchan’s investigation, including the potential additional expenses requested by the defense attorneys, could reach about NIS 410,000. This revelation has raised concerns about the use of public funds for the investigation and the potential impact on the case itself.
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