Mazuz drops campaign funding case against Lieberman
Attorney General's Office decides to close probe into alleged financing offenses by Yisrael Beiteinu chair due to lack of evidence. Investigation into possible fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate documents' allegations still pending
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced Monday that the State will be closing its investigation of Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman.
Lieberman was being investigated for allegedly breaking campaign financing laws, as well ad for fraud, breach of trust and falsifying corporate documents. The investigation into the latter is still ongoing.
The investigation against Yisrael Beiteinu's chairman dates back nearly 10 years ago, when the state comptroller's report on campaign funding indicated that Lieberman's party used a loan given by a Vienna bank to a foreign resident as collateral for a line of credit provided to it by an Israeli bank.
In 2005, the police turned the case over to the Attorney General's Office, while simultaneously launching another investigation into fraud charges.
The fraud investigation was based on information indicating Lieberman had received millions of dollars in bribes from various businessmen, using offshore accounts.
Mazuz aide, Attorney Ran Nizri, informed Lieberman's counsel, Attorney Yaron Kostelitz, of the decision, citing the case would be closed due to lack of evidence.
The Attorney General's Office, wrote Nizri, discussed the case with State Prosecutor Moshe Lador and head of the police's Investigations and Intelligence Unit and decided the case pertaining to campaign financing offences should be closed. The other cases against Lieberman, stressed the letter, as still pending.
The investigations into allegations of fraud and falsifying corporate documents, continued Nizri in his letter, involve deposing witnesses who are living abroad and therefore have no actual deadline. "We will, however, do out best to hurry the investigation along and will keep you abreast of the developments," wrote Niziri.
Attorney Yaron Kostelitz offered the following comment: "The attorney general finally decided to close a case which has been open for many years. We are sure that the second case will enjoy the same results. We do hope, however, it won't take as long."
