Last update - 00:00 29/04/2007
Communications Min. staffers probed for graft in pirate radio scandal
By Eran Gabay, Haaretz Correspondent
In recent months, the police have investigated several Communications Ministry workers on suspicions they received bribes from pirate radio stations, TheMarker has learned.
Investigative material was recently handed over to the state prosecutor. Police suspect these workers helped prevent pirate radio stations from being closed, but it is still unclear how many stations were involved or if the bribes came in the form of money or another type of favor.
Communications Minister Ariel Atias, his director general Mordechai Mordechai and the Ministry's legal advisor department knew nothing of the investigation or the file brought over to the prosecutor's office.
Suspicions in the Ministry of a similar case of bribery arose three years ago. An anonymous letter sent to senior Ministry officials was handed over to police. The fate of that investigation is unknown. Police associates claim the current investigation is not unrelated to the previous affair, noting it began a few months ago. The police commented: "An investigation was carried out and material was transferred to the prosecutor."
The Ministry is responsible for regulating radio frequencies, which are a public asset in short supply. In recent years it has been fighting the pirate radio plague, which also endangers air traffic at Ben-Gurion International airport. It has only enjoyed partial success. A high-ranking police officer has been attached to the Ministry to help with enforcement and deterrence through handing out indictments and sending offenders to trial. The Communications Ministry said it's improper to comment on the details of a police investigation in the newspaper, deferring to the police. No comment was obtained from the prosecutor's office.