High Court asked, again, to suspend Hirchson

After their initial petition was rejected the Movement for Quality Government again demands High Court remove finance minister suspected of embezzlement from public office

Aviram Zino
Published: 04.11.07, 17:23 / Israel News

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel refiled a petition to the High Court of Justice on Wednesday, demanding that Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson be suspended following the ongoing police investigation into allegations of embezzlement against the minister.

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Enough evidence to indict Hirchson, police sources say / Avi Cohen

Finance minister questioned for third time over embezzlement and fraud at non-profit organization, asked about funds transferred to alleged 'straw accounts.' Hirchson continues to deny allegations, but police sources say sufficient evidence has been collected for indictment

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The organization's first petition to the court was denied in late March as judges ruled it was too early in the investigation to forcibly suspend Hirchson.

The Legal Forum for Israel also filed a similar petition, following which the court demanded that the state explain why it saw fit to keep Hirchson in his post despite the charges made against him. The court's ruling puzzled the Movement for Quality Government since their seemingly identical petition was thrown out a mere two days earlier.

The latest appeal does not ask for Hirschon's outright dismissal but only for a suspension period due to the "grievous harm caused to the public's trust in the State as serious charges continue to pile against the minister."

The plaintiffs further wrote in the appeal: "Any personal interest to continue his service as a minister shrinks in the face of the public interest to defend their rights in the State's institutions as a necessity for the survival of any democratic regime. Hirchson's innocence is separate from the matter of his service in public office."

The investigation into the finance minister was launched following suspicions of embezzlement in groups related to the National Workers' Organization, which he headed at the time.

According to the suspicions, the finance minister's son Ofer was also involved in the affair.

Hirchson has already been brought in for questioning three times and police investigators have accused him of accepting substantial sums of money to cover the debts of a friend involved in illegal gambling and for his own political campaign.

Investigators believe that the National Worker's Organization was used to launder funds which ultimately wound up in the pockets of its executives. The investigation also includes additional organizations Hirchson was involved in, including the Nili non-profit association, March of the Living, the Walker Foundation and Yuvalim Pension Fund.

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