Police recommend trying former defense minister for graft
After 6-month probe, police say there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Labor stalwart Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, 10 others
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The police on Sunday recommended that former Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and 10 others stand trial for a series of financial improprieties.
Investigators said they gathered a strong body of evidence against the veteran parliamentarian and the others for bribery, money laundering, fraud, tax offenses, and breach of trust.
The recommendation follows a six-month investigation into allegations that Ben-Eliezer accepted funds from businessmen for unspecified financial favors in 2006, when he served as national infrastructure minister. He is also accused of laundering money using the bank accounts of several relatives.
Hebrew media reports named businessmen Abraham Nanikashvili and Jacky Ben-Zaken, and Ben-Eliezer’s former bureau chief Ayelet Azoulay, as three of the ten suspects.
Ben-Eliezer’s attorney denied the allegations on Sunday on behalf of his client, and said the former defense minister is confident that he will be exonerated.
“For 60 years, Ben-Eliezer served the state of Israel loyally and with a sense of mission, and he is determined to fight for his good name, in spite of his complicated medical condition,” the attorney said.
Last Wednesday, police summoned Ben-Eliezer to the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit over his suspected illicit financial dealings, and he was questioned under caution.
On December 11, the 78-year-old politician announced he would leave politics to focus on his health and clearing his name.
In June, the veteran MK dropped his bid for Israel’s presidency three days before the election over allegations of financial impropriety.
Ben-Eliezer’s bid for the presidency took its final hit after police questioned him for nearly five hours, under caution, on suspicion that he illegally received millions of shekels from various sources, using some of the money to purchase his luxury apartment in Jaffa.
A month later, police placed a temporary lien on his home. According to the report, the beachfront property was bought three years ago for NIS 9 million (a little over $2.5 million).
The Times of Israel Community.