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Israel police say evidence to charge Netanyahu lawyer in bribery probe
JERUSALEM, Nov 8, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Israeli police said Thursday there was
evidence to charge a lawyer for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with
bribery in a corruption probe, one of several cases that have put the
premier’s long tenure in office under the spotlight.
While Netanyahu was questioned as a witness and not a suspect in the case,
the accusations against David Shimron and others in the investigation will
only add to pressure the prime minister faces.
Besides Shimron, police said the former chief of Netanyahu’s office, David
Sharan, is also suspected of bribery, as is the former head of the navy,
Eliezer Marom.
Two other navy ex-generals were named as being suspected of similar
offences, as was a former minister, Eliezer Zandberg.
Referring to Shimron, Netanyahu’s family lawyer who is also a relative of
the premier, police said “there is evidence that he committed bribery
offences and money laundering”.
There was however “insufficient evidence” against another Netanyahu lawyer
and longtime associate, Yitzhak Molcho.
Police issued the statement at the conclusion of the long-running
investigation into Israel’s purchase of submarines manufactured by German
industrial giant ThyssenKrupp.
The police’s findings will now be handed over to the attorney general, who
will decide whether the suspects should be charged.
Netanyahu had not commented on the police’s findings.
– Expensive gifts? –
The probe is one of several that have led to intense scrutiny of
Netanyahu. In February, police recommended Netanyahu be indicted in two graft
probes, though the attorney general has yet to decide whether to do so.
Allegations against him include seeking a secret deal with the publisher
of Israel’s top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot to ensure positive coverage
in return for pushing forward a law that would have limited the circulation
of a rival.
Another case involves suspicions that the prime minister and his family
received luxury gifts from wealthy individuals in exchange for financial or
personal favours.
The gifts allegedly included pricey cigars, jewellery and champagne.
The total value of the gifts received is estimated at around one million
shekels (229,000 euros, $283,000), according to police.
There is also an ongoing inquiry into the prime minister’s ties with local
telecoms giant Bezeq and its largest shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, according
to Israeli media.
Separately, the prime minister’s wife Sara Netanyahu went on trial in
October for allegedly using state funds to fraudulently pay for hundreds of
meals. The case has been adjourned until November 13.
Netanyahu has strongly denied all accusations against him and his family,
calling them a bid by his political enemies to force him from office.
He has been prime minister for a total of more than 12 years, from 1996 to
1999 and again since 2009.
He could next year surpass the record set by Israel’s founding father
David Ben-Gurion, who spent more than 13 years in office.
He is not legally required to step down if indicted — only if he is
convicted with all appeals exhausted.
In the submarine case, Michael Ganor, ThyssenKrupp’s Israel representative
at the time of the deal, agreed to turn state’s witness.
Ganor is to serve a 12-month prison sentence and be fined 10 million
shekels (2.4 million euros, $2.7 million) for tax offences as part of the
deal, police said.
BSS/AFP/RY/1925 hrs