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Labor wants comptroller to review conduct of Ramon case By Barak Ravid The Labor Party today will propose to make the state comptroller responsible for reviewing the police and state prosecution's conduct in the sexual assault investigation against former justice minister Haim Ramon. The proposal is meant as an alternative to Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's controversial drive to set up a committee of inquiry to evaluate the case. At the weekly cabinet meeting today, all of Labor's ministers except Raleb Majadele are expected to reject Friedmann's initiative, which Labor chief Ehud Barak attacked last week. Barak said it "heavily reeks of a strong political interest to help certain ministers while severely compromising the Israeli legal system." Advertisement Ramon was found guilty in early 2007 of having committed an indecent act, in forcibly kissing a female soldier. In early March, Friedmann suggested the establishment of a commission to investigate the police's wiretapping of Ramon during the case. The vice premier's attorneys complained during his trial that police had kept the fact of the wiretapping hidden from them, and that this had harmed Ramon's case. They also questioned the basis for the order that allowed the tapping operation. Last year, a justice ministry committee headed by retired judge Shalom Brenner recommended that the police's conduct in the matter be probed further after determining that "Ramon's case was handled negligently." In his statement against Friedmann's initiative, Barak said that Labor would oppose Friedmann's suggestion. "The Labor Party backs the opinion of Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and will oppose the establishment of the commission in the cabinet meeting on Sunday," said Barak. The defense minister continued: "The Labor Party feels it is obligated to stand up for the rule of law, and to prevent a dangerous situation in which law-enforcement authorities are threatened by government ministers." Responding to these statements, Ramon said that "Barak's attempt to pass himself off as a defender of the rule of law is ridiculous, and might even be aimed at currying favor with the State Prosecutor's Office and the police, who are now reviewing affairs that contain suspicions into the legality of his actions. He is the last person to preach." Associates of Friedmann, who was appointed by Olmert from the ruling Kadima party, said the minister is not prepared to transfer the matter to the state comptroller. "The whole purpose of this proposal is to bury the issue," one close associate said. "What's needed is an independent and external body with authority and the ability to draw serious conclusions." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Killing spree Police conclude Jerusalem bulldozer killer acted alone. The Bar exam Attention celebrities: Israeli start-up company can save you from paparazzi

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