Prime minister’s former chief of staff released to 10 days of house arrest

Energy minister’s brother-in-law questioned in submarine probe

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s former chief of staff David Sharan was released to 10 days of house arrest on Tuesday, following his arrest last week. Political strategist Tzachi Lieber was released under similar conditions.

It was also cleared for publication on Tuesday that the two associates of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz who were arrested and questioned last Sunday in the “submarine affair” were Gary Hakim, a businessman and Steinitz’s brother-in-law; and Aviad Shai, a former adviser to the minister.

It remains unclear what allegations are being made against the two.

While Steinitz is not a suspect in the case, it was reported that Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit approved a police request to summon the minister for testimony.

Steinitz was quoted on Channel 2 News last week as saying he was shocked by the revelations and that he would fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities.

Case 3000, as it is also known, is a police corruption investigation into Israel’s purchase of German-made naval vessels.

Reports claim the latest developments in the investigation were a result of Miki Ganor’s testimony.

Ganor was the Israeli representative of the German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp. He became a state’s witness in late July.

It is suspected that Sharan received bribe money from Ganor through his political strategists Lieber and Natan Mor in order to advance the purchase of the German submarines.

In court last week, Lieber’s attorney Yair Regev admitted the motive that prompted Lieber to transfer the money from Ganor to Sharan.

“My client admitted that a close friend of his who is very dear to him reached out and asked him to do him a favor [give the money to Ganor],” he said in court. “And because of this favor, he is under arrest.”

During testimony, Regev said some NIS 100,000 was transferred in several batches.