Former Tel Aviv District Prosecutor Accused of Faking Fainting Spell in Court

Former Tel Aviv district prosecutor Ruth David, suspected of facilitating bribes and obstructing justice in the case against attorney Ronel Fisher, fainted Friday, shortly before a hearing in Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

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David, who was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in fair condition, was remanded for three days and is expected to appear in court again on Sunday.

Dror Ta Shema, a representative of the Justice Ministry department that investigates police misconduct, claimed David had faked her fainting spell so the hearing would be postponed. He said his department had evidence that David had advised other suspects in the affair to do likewise. David’s attorney, Yair Golan, called Ta Shema’s accusation outrageous.

At the hearing, which proceeded without David, Ta Shema said there was strong evidence against David, albeit not as strong as the evidence against the main suspect, the attorney Fisher, and an ex-police superintendent, Eran Malka. According to Ta Shema, the investigation is still ongoing.

David prosecuted major crime figures, as well as high-profile individuals including Omri Sharon, former Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson and ex-Justice Minister Haim Ramon. After she retired from the prosecutor’s office, she joined Fisher’s law firm and represented him when he was first arrested last year.

David is accused of cooperating with Fisher when he offered his clients inside information from the police in exchange for payment, and of allegedly taking money herself. She is also suspected of attempting to coordinate testimonies at Fisher’s behest after his arrest, when he was prohibited from contacting others involved in the affair.