Lieberman questioned for 3rd time
New foreign minister, suspected of bribery, money laundering fraud and breach of trust, said to be cooperating with National Fraud Unit investigators
For the third time in a week, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was questioned by the Fraud Unit of the Israel Police.
The minister, who took office on Wednesday, was interrogated for five hours, in addition to five hours of questioning last Friday and for more than seven hours on Thursday. He is suspected of bribery, money laundering, fraud and breach of trust.
Police sources told Ynet that "there is substantiated evidence regarding the suspicions against Lieberman."
The allegations against the new foreign minister, elements of which have been ongoing for 13 years with no indictment, include receiving a bribe through the consulting firm run by his daughter, Michal.
Lieberman was said to have cooperated with the National Fraud Unit investigators. His office released a statement noting that he had even asked to expedite the investigation process.
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.
