Israeli media: Close Netanyahu aide turns state witness
Source: Associated Press
Israeli media: Close Netanyahu aide turns state witness
By JOSEF FEDERMAN
1 hour ago
JERUSALEM (AP) A confidant of Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday agreed to turn states witness in a burgeoning corruption case, becoming the third former aide to testify against the Israeli leader in a series of scandals and casting a shadow over a high-profile visit to the White House.
Various media outlets said longtime Netanyahu family spokesman Nir Hefetz had agreed to turn states witness in return for a more lenient punishment. Police placed a gag order on the case and refused to comment.
Hefetz was arrested two weeks ago on suspicion of helping promote regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Israels Bezeq telecom company in return for favorable coverage of Netanyahu and his family by the companys popular news website.
He was released on Sunday, a day before Mondays dramatic development. Shlomo Filber, another long-time confidant to Netanyahu, has also agreed to be a state witness in the case.
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