Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit is weighing the indictment of Housing and Construction Minister Yaakov Litzman for meddling in the extradition of suspected pedophile Malka Leifer and the planned closure of a deli for health violations subject to a hearing, the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office informed Litzman's lawyers, Thursday.
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A member of the United Torah Judaism party, Litzman is alleged to have committed obstruction of justice and breach of trust. While a police investigation also raised suspicions of bribery, a decision was made not to prosecute him for this offense at this stage of the State Attorney's Office's examination of the materials.
Litzman is suspected of taking advantage of his previous role as deputy health minister to advance the interests of private individuals.
In the Malka Leifer affair, Litzman is suspected of working to ensure the Jerusalem District Court's chief psychiatrist walked back his determination the former high-school principal was fit to stand trial.
In another instance, Litzman is accused of aiding a deli that provided catering services. In 2015, the Health Ministry recommended revoking the license of a deli over serious health code violations that led some consumers to get food poisoning.
Litzman, who was known to shop at the deli in question and was friendly with its owners, agreed to help them continue to run their business without adhering to restrictions imposed on the deli.
In a statement, the Magen organization, which accompanied the complainants in the Leifer case, said: "We hope the message that the intervention by those in power and authority on behalf of sex offenders is wrong and constitutes an offense will resonate."
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