As Netanyahu grilled, police chief says probes nearing end

Police Chief Roni Alsheich said Monday that both ongoing corruption investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were nearing completion, as the prime minister was questioned by police for the fourth time in one of the probes.

“We will be finished soon,” Alsheich told reporters at a swearing-in ceremony for Israel’s new fire chief. “There have been some constraints, but we are in the final stages.”

“After we complete our obligations, we will update the public when we make our official recommendations,” he said.

Alsheich did not elaborate on what the “constraints” the investigations have faced, but police in recent weeks have reportedly said their work had been repeatedly delayed by Netanyahu’s busy schedule and time spent abroad, as well as their difficulty reaching persons of interest in the case.

His remarks came as police questioned Netanyahu for a fourth time in the corruption investigation into expensive gifts to the prime minister from businessmen, known as Case 1000.

Netanyahu has insisted the gifts were between friends and denied they caused him to have an illegal conflict of interest.

Case 1000 is one of two ongoing corruption investigations into the prime minister and his family. A second case involves an alleged quid pro quo negotiated between Netanyahu and newspaper publisher Arnon Mozes. He denies wrongdoing in that case as well.

The latest round of questioning on Monday afternoon was being conducted by Lahav 433 at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem.

Last week, Lahav officers complained their inquiry has been repeatedly held up by Netanyahu’s frequent travels abroad. In recent weeks the prime minister has visited the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore and Australia, and on Thursday, he will be traveling to Russia.

Channel 2 said previously that police investigators are also having a difficult time setting up interviews with two key figures in the investigations, namely Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who allegedly provided Netanyahu and his wife Sara with expensive cigars and champagne valued at hundreds of thousands of shekels, and Australian businessman James Packer, who is said to have paid for expensive meals and accommodation for the Netanyahus’ son Yair.

According to unnamed sources quoted recently by Channel 2, Netanyahu told police that he did not know anything about bottles of champagne supposedly given to his wife, and said that he bought most of the cigars in cash from a “relative.”

But Milchan and his personal assistant, as well as other associates of the Hollywood producer, have told police investigators the items were bought at the request of the Netanyahus, according to reports.

The detectives, Channel 2 reported, have receipts and concrete evidence showing that the bubbly, cigars and some pieces of jewelry were allegedly transferred to the Netanyahu family in what is described as a “systematic” manner.

Last month police said the Case 1000 investigation would likely lead to a recommendation to indict Netanyahu. Officials said they were looking at two options: accusing the premier of breach of trust only, or adding the more serious charge of accepting a bribe.

Netanyahu swung back at police and in a statement released by his office, he chastised the police for indicating that a recommendation to indict was likely before the investigation is completed, but then asking for more interviews.

“What is there more to investigate if they indicated that they will recommend an indictment? This is what happens when pre-conceived notions clash with the facts. Like I’ve said before: ‘There will be nothing because there is nothing,’” Netanyahu said in the statement.

The prime minister is also being investigated in Case 2000, which involves alleged negotiations with the publisher of the Yedioth Aharonoth daily, Arnon Mozes, and focuses on the prime minister’s supposed promise to advance legislation to hobble his paper’s rival, the Sheldon Adelson-controlled Israel Hayom, in exchange for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.