Ex-MK testifies against Bar-On in double-voting case

Former MK Inbal Gavrieli testified to the police yesterday against Finance Minister Roni Bar-On as part of a new inquiry into the 2003 Knesset double-voting case.

Officially, police stressed that they have not opened a formal investigation against Bar-On; rather, this is a preliminary inquiry to see whether such a probe is warranted. However, a police source said it seems clear that "the material uncovered is likely to serve as the basis for a broader investigation."

The inquiry was sparked by a picture published in Yedioth Ahronoth last month that appeared to show Bar-On voting for Gavrieli during a vote on the economic emergency plan of 2003. Police plan to present their findings to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz soon, so that he can decide whether to order a formal investigation against Bar-On.

Two other then-MKs, Michael Gorlovsky and Yehiel Hazan, were investigated and ultimately convicted of double-voting on the bill. Hazan has since asked that his case be reopened, arguing that the new evidence implicating Bar-On would have been sufficient to clear him.