The Knesset yesterday waived the immunity of Likud MK Shmuel Rechtmann, Mayor or Rehovoth, opening the way for his arrest and prosecution on charges of accepting a bribe. Rechtmann was the ninth MK to have his parliamentary immunity revoked in the Knesset’s 30-year history. The move was taken at the request of Attomey General Aharon Barak. Rechtmann is accused of taking a bribe from Aharon Gibor, the city building contractor, in June. The Knesset House Committee recommended the waiver last week after hearing evidence from State Attorney Gavriel Bach. Bach represented Barak who is resigning at the end of the month to become a Justice of the Supreme Court. Questions were raised about the legal use of tape recordings made of conversations between Rechtmann and Gibor without Rechtmann’s knowledge. Rechtmann said later that he welcomed the chance to prove his innocence.
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