Lieberman questioned for 2nd time since taking office
New foreign minister interrogated for five hours by police's National Fraud Unit on suspicion of bribery, fraud; he is expected to be questioned once again
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was questioned under caution on Friday for the second time since taking office. The minister was interrogated for five hours and is expected to be questioned once again in the near future.
On Thursday, Lieberman was questioned for more than seven hours. He is suspected of bribery, money laundering, fraud and breach of trust.
The minister was said to have cooperated with the National Fraud Unit investigators.
Lieberman's office said in a statement Thursday that "this is the same investigation which has been going on for 13 years. Minister Lieberman even filed a High Court petition to have it accelerated." The foreign minister's office added cynically, "He enjoys the coffee at the police."
The allegations against the new foreign minister, who took office on Wednesday, include receiving a bribe through the consulting firm run by his daughter, Michal.
A Tel Aviv District Court ruling from 2008 denied Lieberman's appeal against the authorization of documents seized from his attorney's office, stating that "Lieberman's actions possess a more than criminal hue".
Two weeks before the national elections in February seven of the minister's associates were interrogated by the Fraud Unit, prompting him to file a motion with the High Court of Justice against the investigation.
In a hearing on the motion police claimed Lieberman was continuing to commit offenses.
