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ISRAEL-POLITICS-NETANYAHU-POLICE
Sara Netanyahu grilled on new fraud allegation: Israel media
JERUSALEM, Dec 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Police were questioning Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara on Friday on new suspicions of
fraudulently misusing public funds, Israeli media reported.
Public radio said that Sara Netanyahu arrived at the headquarters of the
National Fraud Squad, near Tel Aviv, late in the morning.
There was no immediate confirmation from police, who have issued statements
on previous interrogations of the Netanyahus on a raft of different graft
allegations only after the day’s questioning was over.
On Sunday, police recommended charging the premier and his wife for bribery
and other offences.
It was the third such recommendation against them in recent months.
Netanyahu denied the accusations, but the cases against him have led to
speculation that they could eventually force the long-serving prime minister
to step down.
Sara Netanyahu went on trial in October for allegedly using state funds to
fraudulently pay for hundreds of meals.
Haaretz daily said Friday that the latest allegation against her relates to
fraudulent presentation to a government watchdog of receipts for charitable
donations.
It said that if the suspicions are verified, they would be added to
evidence in her existing trial.
The case put forward by police on Sunday is a separate matter, which
centres on regulatory benefits allegedly granted to telecommunications firm
Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage of Netanyahu from a related media
company.
Police in February recommended indicting Netanyahu in two other corruption
investigations.
The attorney general must decide whether to file charges.
In the findings announced Sunday following a long-running investigation,
police said there was evidence to indict Netanyahu with bribery, fraud,
breach of trust and unlawful acceptance.
They recommended Sara Netanyahu go on trial for bribery, fraud, breach of
trust and obstruction of justice.
The premier has repeatedly called the allegations against him a plot by his
political enemies to force him from office.
The recommendations in February involved separate cases of alleged bribery.
In one, allegations against Netanyahu 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.
The other case involves suspicions the premier and his family received
luxury gifts from wealthy individuals in exchange for financial or personal
favours.
The alleged gifts — including cigars, jewellery and champagne — had an
estimated value of around one million shekels ($270,000), police say.
Netanyahu has been prime minister for a total of more than 12 years, from
1996 to 1999 and again since 2009.
Polls suggest he would still win if elections were to be held now despite
the accusations.
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 avenues for appeal exhausted.
BSS/AFP/RY/1840 hrs