The police completed today (Monday) the investigation of Energy Minister Eli Cohen in the diplomatic passports affair.
According to a report by Eli Senior on Channel 13, the case was forwarded to the Attorney General's Office for review for a decision.
According to police sources, there is evidence in the case indicating that offenses were committed by the minister, who is suspected of helping his associates obtain passports in violation of procedures.
However, investigators note that the case is not legally clear.
Five months ago, YHA investigators raided the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Jerusalem for the second time, in light of developments in the diplomatic passport affair, which centered on the suspicion that during Eli Cohen's tenure as Foreign Minister, diplomatic passports were issued to those who were not entitled to them.
The investigators arrived with a search warrant and confiscated documents and minutes from meetings. One of the ministry's employees was detained to give testimony in Lahav 433.
Last October, it was first announced that former Foreign Ministry Director General Ronen Levy (Maoz) was being questioned under caution in the affair, a month after Minister Eli Cohen was summoned for questioning under caution.
The minister said at the time: "Today I was asked to give my version of events to the police regarding the passport issue. This investigation was never supposed to be opened - but as a law-abiding citizen, from the moment an investigation is opened, I will answer all questions in full. To the facts.".
""During my time as Foreign Minister, only 4 passports were issued by the Ministry's Director General in accordance with his authority. Yair Netanyahu, a secure individual, had his passport renewed for security reasons, several times, by several Directors General starting in 2009. Passports were also issued to three mayors who officially applied according to the Ministry's procedures following international activity within the scope of their duties.
""In the past, mayors were also given passports based on the same reasons. Even in retrospect, the decision of the Director General, by virtue of his authority, in the four cases is certainly justified, and certainly no criminal or administrative offense was committed. In all my positions in the government, in the IDF and in academia - the law has been and will be a lamp to my feet.".
