The Petah Tikva Magistrates Court today released Israel's Consul General to The Hague Uriel Yitzhaki to house arrest for 15 days at his sister's home in Jerusalem.
Judge Lia Lev On forbade Yitzhaki from contacting anyone connected to the case in which he is being investigated. Yitzhaki also had to post NIS 100,000 in bail, and he has been forbidden to leave the country or approaching the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Yitzhaki (56) was released to house arrest with his consent, after being remanded since Passover eve last week, on suspicion of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, theft by a public servant, unlawful consensual sex, threats, a failure to make reports under the Prohibition on Money Laundering Law (5760-2000).
Israel Police National Serious and International Crimes Unit investigators will return to Israel tomorrow, after gathering evidence in the Netherlands and Austria. The police say they have solid evidence from the Netherlands against Yitzhaki.
The main suspicion against Yitzhaki is the issue of 150 duplicate Israeli passports to people who were not entitled to them, in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars and other perks, including stays at luxury hotels.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on April 28, 2005