Police sources said that despite Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's recent decision not to indict Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on similar charges, due to insufficient evidence, they are confident of their recommendation in Benizri's case. Not only do they have "serious evidence," they reported, but they also have a participant in the alleged crimes who turned state's evidence: Moshe Sela, the owner of a manpower agency. Sela told the police that he bribed then minister Benizri with loans, gifts and other financial benefits in exchange for the latter's help in swinging a major tender his way. The tender was for the import of thousands of foreign workers into Israel. Police say that over the course of several years, Sela gave Benizri bribes worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. Even larger sums were allegedly paid to Elbaz, who is Benizri's "patron,"and to institutions that he heads. Malka allegedly received bribes for her help in giving the tender to Sela. It was Sela who provided the breakthrough in the police investigation, and he also led them to the last suspect in the case, Sheinikman. Sela said that in exchange for bribes, Sheinikman gave him details about quotas for the import of foreign workers and other information that helped him to employ foreign workers illegally.

At about the time the state's deal with Sela was announced, Benizri, who had already been questioned by the police several times, announced that he would no longer cooperate with them, because the contents of his interrogations were being leaked to the press. At a confrontation later staged between the two, Benizri refused to say anything in response to allegations by Sela.

In response to the police recommendation, Benizri issued only a brief statement: "A three-year ongoing nightmare for me and my family, which was based on evil slander by interested parties, has come to an end. I believe in my innocence. The allegations against me are groundless and sooner or later, my innocence will be proven."

His associates, however, charged that the police never even interrogated Benizri about the allegations of bribery and breach of trust, while the charges that he helped Sela win a tender had been disproved. They also accused the police of repeated leaks to the press in an effort to pressure Benizri. Finally, they complained that the police had not notified Benizri of their recommendation before telling the press. "It is inconceivable that a former minister should receive the news at the same time as the reporters, without first giving him time to inform his family and his elderly parents," said one associate. Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said he is certain that Mazuz, who must make the final decision on whether to indict, will decide to close the case.