Omri Sharon in hot water
Photo: Tomeriko
PM's son indicted Sunday
Prosecutors in Tel Aviv serve indictment against Omri Sharon over illegal fundraising charges related to 1999 Likud primaries. Earlier, Sharon junior waived Knesset immunity
The Tel Aviv District Prosecutor's Office served an indictment Sunday against Knesset Member Omri Sharon, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son.
The decision to indict Sharon junior over illegal fundraising charges was announced at the end of July by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. The young Sharon is charged with creating false corporate records, breach of trust, and the serious violation of false testimony.
The charges against Omri Sharon go back to Ariel Sharon's fundraising campaign during the 1999 Likud primaries.
The Justice Ministry was forced to wait for 30 days following Mazuz's announcement in order to allow Sharon to ask for Knesset immunity. The 30-day period ends today, and Omri Sharon, as expected, has not asked to exercise his immunity.
'I will argue my case before the court'
In an earlier letter sent to Knesset chairman Reuven Rivilin and Knesset committee chairman Ronny Bar-On, Omri Sharon said that he is giving up his immunity.
The letter also laid out the chain of events in question and contained an admission by Sharon that he had violated the Parties Law.
Sharon criticized the restrictiveness of the law, saying that it was never put into practice and that "I am the one and only to be tried for violating it."
Yet he added, "Yes, while working on my fathers' election campaign in 1999, I did not hold by the restrictions of the Parties Law, and I am ready to face justice. I will argue my case before the court that sits in judgment of me."
