Last update - 00:00 21/11/2007
Crime gang's attorney accused of smuggling drugs to jailed clients
By Ofra Eidelman, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
An indictment was filed Wednesday with the Jerusalem District Court against 'Jerusalem gang' defense attorney Liora Berko who is suspected of smuggling drugs to her clients while they were in prison.
Berko, a 32-year-old resident of Rishon Lezion, is accused of bringing Itzik Bar Mocha and Eliran Drei three grams of cocaine, 20 tranquilizer pills and two tablets of Viagra in a lipstick container, as well as a pot of glue.
Berko denied the allegations when she was detained last week. During questioning she accused the police of attempting to use her in order to criminalize Bar Mocha. She added that investigators who questioned her had suggested she testify against her clients as a state witness.
A gag order was placed on Berko's name at her request after her arrest last week, and was lifted by the High Court on Wednesday when the indictment against her was filed.
Berko was placed under house arrest until legal proceedings are completed and may not work until her trial concludes.