The Knesset, currently trying to persuade one of its members, presently in jail, to resign is pondering the question of whether to waive parliamentary immunity for another, Samuel Flatto-Sharon, who the Attorney General wants to prosecute for allegedly buying the votes that elected him in 1977.
The Knesset House Committee is expected to take up Attorney General Yitzhak Zamir’s request shortly. Zamir believes he has sufficient evidence to press charges against Flatto and certain of his aides whose job was to round up voters and transport them to the polls. But at a House Committee session today, several MKs indicated that they would have to think long and hard before voting to expose Flatto to prosecution for actions that may not be far removed from those engaged in by other, less controversial candidates in election campaigns.
It was pointed out by some that many political parties hire election day helpers who are expected to vote for the party and get others to do so. Several members said they have yet to be convinced that there is a prima facie case against Flatto. The latter’s attorney will appear before the committee later this week after which the members will deliberate whether or not to recommend a waiver of immunity to the Knesset plenum.
MK ENTERTAINS SUPPORTERS
Flatto, who possesses a large personal fortune, is fighting hard to retain his immunity. If it is lifted he could face extradition to France where he is wanted on several counts of fraud and tax evasion, offenses allegedly committed before he fled to Israel several years ago. On Sunday, he invited more than 1000 of his supporters to a gala reception at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel. “Have you received any money for electing me?” he asked. The answer was a resounding “no.” His supporters also agreed that Flatto was doing a good job in the Knesset where he constitutes a one man faction.
Meanwhile, Likud party Whip Avraham Sharir and coalition chairman Haim Corfu said they plan to visit Likud MK Shmuel Rechtmann in prison this week to try to persuade him to resign for the good of the party and the Knesset. Rechtmann was sentenced last December to 31/2 years in jail for accepting bribes from a building contractor while he was Mayor of Rehovoth but continues to hold his Knesset seat because there is no legal machinery to remove him.
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