From defendant to state witness? The twist in the extortion case of Suzy Koninsky

A former police officer who was charged alongside attorney Suzy Koninsky with extortion by threats has become a prosecution witness against her. The court found a prima facie basis for the claim that he is a state witness, and the defense demands full disclosure of the correspondence between his lawyer and the prosecution. The judge has not yet ruled on the appeal.

The twist in the extortion case in which attorney Suzy Koninsky, wife of the mayor of Karmiel, is accused, was at the center of a hearing at the Haifa District Court. At the heart of the case is former police officer Ilan Sardel, who was initially charged together with Koninsky, but after signing an agreement with the prosecution, the indictment against him was dropped and he became a prosecution witness against her. The defense claims that Sardel did not incriminate Koninsky in his investigation and demands full disclosure of the correspondence between his lawyer and the prosecution. The Magistrate's Court judge ruled that there is a prima facie basis to view Sardel as a state witness, but only provided a paraphrase of the correspondence. In the appeal hearing, Judge Benjo did not rule and allowed the prosecution to respond by the end of the day.