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Israeli police recommend indicting deputy health minister

Israeli police finished their investigation into Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman and recommend indictment. 

By World Israel News Staff

On Tuesday, Israeli police recommended indicting Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman, who heads the United Torah Judaism party. Police say he abused his position at the ministry to prevent the extradition of an accused child abuser to Australia to face punishment.

Australia wanted Malka Leifer to stand trial for sexually abusing children while working as a principal at a school for Orthodox Jews in Melbourne.

Australian prosecutors say she is pretending to be mentally ill to avoid extradition. Litzman allegedly used his position to obtain a psychiatric evaluation stating Leifer was unfit to stand trial.

The deputy health minister is also accused by police of working to keep open a food business owned by an associate, which was going to be closed due to uncleanliness that caused several customers to fall ill.

In a third case, Litzman is suspected of improperly interfering with the Ministry of Health psychological health center and other ministries on behalf of prisoners seeking early release.

The investigation was carried out by the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit and the National Fraud Investigation Unit. The police want Litzman charged with bribery, fraud, breach of trust and persuading persons to commit perjury.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit will weigh whether or not to accept the police’s recommendation to indict Litzman.

Litzman denies all accusations made against him.