Shake-up in the top ranks of the PID: The prosecutor in charge of the investigation into Ben Gvir's associates has requested a transfer
First publication: The senior official, who was the right hand of the outgoing head of the PID, has requested to end her role and move to the appeals department of the State Attorney's Office — while the handling of the case involving Itamar Ben Gvir's associates has not yet concluded. "There is no connection to the handling of the case," the State Attorney's Office claimed.
A shake-up in the top ranks of the Police Investigation Department (PID): A senior prosecutor in the PID, who served as the prosecutor in charge of the sensitive investigation into the case of the associates of Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, has requested to end her role in the department and move to another position in the State Attorney's Office. This was learned today, Thursday, by ynet.
This is one of the senior prosecutors in the PID, who over the years has filled central roles in the department, was involved in handling sensitive cases, and was considered the "right hand" of the outgoing head of the PID, Adv. Keren Bar Menachem. As part of her last role, the prosecutor was in charge, among other things, of the case of Ben Gvir's associates, in which, among others, Colonel Avishai Moalem, former commander of the Judea and Samaria District Central Investigation Unit, Israel Prison Service (IPS) Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, Minister Ben Gvir's Chief of Staff Hanamel Dorfman, and other involved parties were investigated.
Recently, the prosecutor requested to end her role in the PID and move to the appeals department of the State Attorney's Office. The move occurs while the handling of the case of Ben Gvir's associates has not yet concluded, and after the prosecutor was involved in accompanying the investigation from its first day. The State Attorney's Office responded: "The prosecutor moved to another unit at her request, a request that was submitted even before the head of the PID, Keren Bar Menachem, finished her role, and it has no connection to the handling of this or any other case. The case will be handled as usual."
The main witness who is expected to leave his position
About a year and a half ago, the PID opened a covert investigation against senior officials in the police and the Ministry of National Security. At the center of the investigation was the then-commander of the Central Investigation Unit (YAMAR) of the Judea and Samaria District Police, Colonel Avishai Moalem, who, according to suspicions, intentionally refrained from arresting extreme right-wing activists and leaked classified information to Minister Ben Gvir's office in exchange for a promotion.
Later, a suspicion arose that IPS Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi had passed information to Colonel Moalem regarding a covert investigation concerning him, which dealt with the fact that he had allegedly acted to prevent the arrest of suspects in Jewish terrorism in exchange for his promotion in the police. Following this, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced in April that it had been decided to file an indictment against Yaakobi.
About a month ago, it was agreed that the head of the Human Resources Division in the police, Major General Alona Shoshan, would go on leave following a meeting with Police Commissioner Dani Levy, against the backdrop of her complaint that Brigadier General Lior Abudram, the main witness against Yaakobi, had sexually harassed her. The decision was made against the backdrop of an investigation being conducted by the Competition Authority — as part of an offshoot of the "Ben Gvir's associates case" — in which Shoshan herself was questioned under caution on suspicion of witness tampering. According to the suspicion, Shoshan tried to coach Abudram so that he would admit to giving false testimony.
About a week ago, ynet learned that Brigadier General Abudram would also end his role as head of the Spokesperson's Division — and at the same time would advance to another senior position in the police. Abudram is the one who testified in the PID, as part of an open testimony, that Yaakobi had updated Colonel Avishai Moalem that an investigation was being conducted against him. Abudram served as the assistant to the Police Commissioner at the time he gave the open testimony in the case. In his investigation, he noted that he had turned directly to the head of the PID, Adv. Keren Bar Menachem, to receive information about the impediments of officers against whom investigations are being conducted.
