Police recommend indicting Haim Katz in IAI corruption affair

Minister: Allegations baseless, prosecution will not indict me

The police announced that it has finished its investigation into corruption allegations at Israel Aerospace Industries and recommended to the state’s prosecution to indict Labor and Social Services Minister Haim Katz.

The investigation looked into the period of time in which Katz served as the organization’s chairman of the National Workers Union.

Police said in a statement on Sunday that it found enough evidence to indict Katz and other senior Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) officials with offenses of bribery, fraud, breach of trust and forceful extortion.

After announcing recommendations, police hand the case to the state’s prosecution, which examines the evidence and decides whether or not to indict.

The statement said that Katz, along with the senior officials, were taking

advantage of their positions to use other workers for their own benefit. It also said that in return for assistance, the minister provided paid jobs for “his people” in and out of the IAI and that during his time as chairman, Katz used thousands of shekels worth of IAI resources and workers for his own personal uses.

In response to the indictment, Katz said: “I did not expect otherwise from the police because they would never admit that the massive amount of resources that they put in this investigation was for nothing.”

“Every person with common sense knows what this investigation is about and understands that it entails nothing, and the allegations [against me] are baseless,” Katz said. “I am certain that the state’s prosecution people have integrity and honesty, and they will decide not to indict me in this case.” •