Court: Lieberman's actions bear criminal aspect

The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court rejected Thursday MK Avigdor Lieberman's appeal to ban the police from using materials seized at his attorney's office during the investigation against him, stating that Lieberman's actions suggest an alleged involvement in criminal dealings.

Lieberman is suspected of taking bribes through a consulting firm in which his daughter, Michal, used to work. The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman is also suspected of fraud, breach of trust and infraction relating to money laundering.

As part of the investigation, the police confiscated documents from his attorney Yoav Menny's office. Lieberman and the lawyer claimed that the documents enjoy attorney-client privilege and should therefore be excluded from the investigation.

Judge Baruch Shmuel rejected Lieberman's petition, ruling that the materials seized do not fall under attorney-client privilege communication, thus granting the police 30 days to study the files, unless any of the sides petitions the Supreme Court before then.

After reading the confidential documents, the judge wrote in his ruling that Lieberman has founded his objection to releasing the materials on his claims that the State was persecuting him.

However, the court found that the documents in question indicate that Attorney Menny provided Lieberman with services potentially exceeding customary or accepted legal services rendered by a lawyer to his client, which may have gone as far as some involvement in criminal acts, to an extent that warrants removing the privilege.

Lieberman's office said in response: "The court chose to defer the execution of the ruling by 30 days, in order to allow MK Lieberman to study the material. MK Lieberman is currently abroad, and will examine the material and respond accordingly once he returns."

Efrat Weiss contributed to the report