Ganot's lawyer: Prison Service commissioner can be police chief

The lawyer for Yaakov Ganot, the controversial choice for national police commissioner, says the actions drawing suspicion against his client should not be counted against him because they took place from 1992 to 1994.

"It is obvious that a stain on a person does not remain forever, but rather fades with time and with [other] actions," Jacob Weinroth wrote to the High Court of Justice Friday in preparation for this morning's scheduled session. "The petitions could make one think that Ganot was completely immersed in stone, but that is not the case, he is a decorated police officer and his resume testifies to his total dedication."

Petitions against Ganot's appointment were submitted last week by the Ometz good-government association, the Movement for Quality Government and the Land of Israel Legal Forum after Public Security Minister Avi Dichter tapped Ganot to replace Moshe Karadi as police commissioner. Ganot is currently Prison Service commissioner.

In 1996, the Supreme Court acquitted Ganot due to reasonable doubt on charges of bribery, fraud, breach of trust and abuse of his position over a series of incidents during his term as district police chief. He admitted to disciplinary violations and was suspended from the force for three years.

In his letter to the court, Weinroth detailed various sensitive positions that Ganot has held since his trials, including important anti-corruption appointments.

On Thursday the state submitted its response to the petitions, but they address the timetable of the deliberations only and not the appointment itself.