by havanagilla » Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:20 am
<br> <br> <br><br>Last update - 15:34 25/07/2006 <br> <br> <br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/742644.html" target="top">Police probe sexual assault claims against Min. Haim Ramon</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> <br> <br>By Yuval Yoaz and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents <br> <br>The police anti-fraud unit has opened an investigation into claims Justice Minister Haim Ramon sexually assaulted a government worker in a separate ministry.<br><br>According to the allegation, Ramon attempted to forcibly kiss the employee during a <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>social gathering at the Defense Ministry compound - the Kirya - in Tel Aviv.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>Authorities permitted news of the investigation to be publicized Tuesday after the investigative staff requested an injunction against media exposure of the story.<br><br><br> <br> <br> Advertisement <br> <br>Officials with intimate knowledge of the probe said that, at first glance, the incident appears to be a borderline case which may not warrant an indictment.<br><br>Ramon, who denies all the allegations, has yet to be questioned over the affair, however he did initiate contact with investigators and requested to give his version of events. In all likelihood, he will be summoned by authorities on Wednesday.<br><br>"I didn't commit any crime and in this case I have no doubt that it will become clear that no crime was committed," the justice minister said.<br><br>On July 12, Ramon arrived at the Kirya in Tel Aviv to participate in the special cabinet session which convened in light of the outbreak of hostilities in the north.<br><br>Concurrently in a nearby room, a crowd, among them the female employee who submitted the complaint, was attending a party. The employee, who was acquainted with the justice minister on a cursory level, approached Ramon to request a joint photograph to mark the occasion of her departure from her post.<br><br>Ramon agreed to the photograph and went into an adjacent room to watch television.<br><br>The alleged incident occurred at this stage, when, according to the employee, Ramon attempted to kiss her against her will. Ramon denies the charge, claiming that the female approached him, gave him a kiss, and even provided him with her telephone number so they could maintain contact.<br><br>Ramon aides said that the young woman tended to approach the justice minister on numerous occasions, act especially friendly towards him to the point of flirtation.<br><br>Aides said the encounter between the minister and the female at the party in question was strictly of a platonic nature.<br><br>Justice Ministry officials said that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and State Prosecutor Eren Shendar have been closely following the developments in the investigation from its infancy.<br><br>In recent days, Mazuz and Shendar have both convened legal consultations during which they received detailed updates of the police probe. The interim spokesperson at the ministry noted that no futher details on the investigation will be released at this point.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br>Bookmark to del.icio.us <br> <br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=havanagilla>havanagilla</A> at: 7/25/06 8:21 am<br></i>
