In his first interrogation with the police on 28 August 2014 (P/281), Yehezkel was asked about his relationship with Ben-Eliezer, with the defendant and with Ofir Ben-Eliezer, and described it in detail. At the beginning of the interrogation, Yechezkel spoke about a loan he made to Ophir Ben-Eliezer, and a direct follow-up, he was asked whether he had ever given money to Binyamin Ben-Eliezer.
This is Yechezkel's initial version from his interrogation:
- Did you ever give his father money? Any amount of money?
- I think that a few years ago... Two or three years ago.
- Two or three years ago. Ok, what?
- I think I gave him environments... A loan of 50,000 or something like that.
- $50,000?
- Yes, environments...
- Directly to him? Directly to Fouad Ben-Eliezer?
- No, I asked Roy to... (Z.L. from "Roy" - the defendant, B.S.)
- Did you ask Roy to do that?
- Yes.
- And what was the purpose of this money? Fouad called you and told you he needed money?
- Yes.
- How much did he want at first?
- What he wanted was 40, 50, 60 no more than those numbers" (P/281, p. 19, s. 34).
Standing before us Prosecution witness, who already in his immediate version to the police, confirms that he transferred to Ben-Eliezer, Through the Defendant, a sum of money ranging from $40,000 to $60,000, as a loan at Ben-Eliezer's request. Given the fact that the witness was interrogated in 2014, and described that the same incident had taken place two or three years earlier, it appears that the testimony also corresponds to the relevant schedule.
This version remained firm even after his testimony in court, where he noted the following:
"... I think he's (Ben-Eliezer - B.S.) He said he was running (for the presidency – B.S.), I told him you don't have to tell me why. How much do you need 50k? Please, I ask Roy to transfer 50,000... I asked Roy if he could do me a favor and give him the money... I said to him, "Roy, Fouad is asking me for a loan, can you give it to him and I'll cover it?"" (Prov. p. 1000, s. 8; p. 1001, paras. 7-9).