Attorney Effi Naveh, who is suspected of trading the influence he had as representative of the Israel Bar Association on the Judicial Selection Committee for sexual favors, announced Thursday he has resigned from the chairmanship of the Israel Bar Association.
The IBA issued a statement in Naveh's name, which said, "I hereby announce my resignation from my role as chairman of the Israel Bar Association. I decided to do so because the bar is very dear to me."
The statement went on: "I do not want my personal matters – which I assume will conclude quickly – to damage the bar association's important activity. I thank all my friends for everything we have experienced together, and wish success to whoever succeeds me."
On Thursday, Naveh was questioned under caution at the offices of the Lahav 433 Major Crimes Unit in Lod. The meeting with investigators lasted more than eight hours.
At this stage, the investigation is focusing on two main suspected incidents: one in which Naveh allegedly demanded sexual favors from a female lawyer in exchange for securing her promotion to magistrates' court judge, and a second in which Naveh allegedly worked to promote a magistrates' court judge to the district court in exchange for sex with the judge's wife (also a practicing lawyer.) The promotion did not go through.
Most of the material the police have collected in the case is based on correspondence Naveh conducted from his mobile phone, the legality of whose use has been cleared by the State Attorney's Office. Other evidence is based on Naveh's email correspondence as chairman of the IBA.
Either way, the messages and emails led to the suspicion that Naveh and the female lawyer (who is married to the magistrates' court judge whom Naveh tried to promote) conducted a personal, intimate correspondence. Other correspondences indicate Naveh was sexually involved with law interns.
One official involved in the investigation said, "Even though the correspondence does not meet the standards of a criminal act, they help bolster the suspicion that the sexual relations between Naveh and the [female] judge and lawyer affected his decisions in their matters."
Naveh continues to deny the allegations against him.
At Naveh's remand hearing on Wednesday, the police argued that Naveh had allegedly "exploited his prominent status and his ability to influence the judicial selection process, and was therefore in a conflict of interest. At this stage, we are talking about two isolated incidents. [Naveh] being arrested is in the public interest and overrides the suspect's rights. Other incidents related to the suspect will be investigated."
Attorney Boaz Ben Zur, who represents Naveh, said Thursday that the police evidence had been obtained illegally.
"It seems to me that it's a big fuss about nothing. The basic claim ignores the decision-making process in the Judicial Selection Committee. At the end of the day, there are investigations that start with a lot of noise and end with a whimper.
"The issue of the sexual allegations [against my client] seem irrelevant to me, and the evidence was obtained illegally. It will be hard to legitimize it in a police investigation and will lead to a question about whether it is admissible," Ben Zur said.
The Justice Ministry issued a statement on Thursday expressing support for police investigators.
"Without confirming or denying any of the allegations, we will state that all the investigative actions were conducted in accordance with the law, with the approval of the officials in authority, and under judicial supervision. At this stage, there is a gag order on most of the details of the investigation, and therefore we cannot address anything beyond what was said above."
Meanwhile, both the female judge and the lawyer continue to deny suspicions against them.
