Police: Lieberman's transgressions ongoing

The Yisrael Beiteinu chair has been the subject of a police investigation for the past several years. He is suspected of alleged fraud, money laundering and breach of trust, and has recently filed a High Court petition asking the court to order the police to conclude their lengthy investigation.

Speaking at the court hearing on the motion, Superintendent Assaf Wolfish of the National Fraud Unit said the investigation against Lieberman concerned "offences committed to this very day."

Deputy Attorney General Raz Nizri told the court that the State Prosecutor's Office intends to question Lieberman himself very soon, adding that his office "believes we are close to ending this investigation." Nizri hinted that the interrogation will take place once coalition talks are completed.

Attorney Yaron Kosteliz, representing Lieberman, argued that the lengthy probe has caused his client "immeasurable, irrevocable damage"; he added that his client has been "targeted" by the police since 1996.

Justice Ayala Procaccia, presiding over the hearing, criticized the police and the State Prosecutor's Office, wondering aloud about the nature of a case which has been open since 2000.

"The police is required to brief (the State Prosecutor's Office) about any investigation which has been pending for over a year, since a definitive decision has to be made," she said. "This case has been pending for six years. How do you account for that?"

Superintendent Wolfish assured the court that the police was sparing no efforts to see this case to its end.

The court ordered the State to file an update as to the investigation within 60 days. Lieberman would be allowed 10 days to file his rebuttal to the findings, after which the court would rule on his petition.