Hirchson. Questioned for seven hours
Photo: Gilad Kavalerchik
Enough evidence to indict Hirchson, police sources say
Finance minister questioned for third time over embezzlement and fraud at non-profit organization, asked about funds transferred to alleged 'straw accounts.' Hirchson continues to deny allegations, but police sources say sufficient evidence has been collected for indictment
Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson was questioned
by the Police Economic Crimes Unit for about seven hours Thursday on suspicion of theft, fraud and breach of trust.
Investigators asked the finance minister about funds transferred to alleged "straw accounts" by Hirchson's associates, about the withdrawal of funds from the March of the Living non-profit organization, and about the financing of his Likud primary elections campaign in 1999.
This was the third time Hirchson had been questioned over the embezzlement and fraud affair at the National Workers' Organization and the Nili non-profit association.
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Sources involved in the investigation said Thursday that the police had managed to collect sufficient evidence to indict Hirchson, even before his third questioning. According to the sources, Thursday's questioning was aimed at clarifying a number of details in order to complete the picture and hear Hirchson's response to the suspicions against him.
The finance minister continued to deny the allegations, and said that the funds transferred to his account came from his son Ofer and a relative living in Switzerland, who helped him during his wife's illness.
$250,000 uncovered in Hirchson's belongings
The investigation was launched following suspicions of embezzlement in groups related to the National Workers' Organization, which was headed by Hirchson at the time.According to the suspicions, the finance minister's son Ofer was also involved in the affair.
Last Tuesday, Hirchson was also questioned for about seven hours. According to suspicions, he had received a large amount of funds used to cover the debts of a colleague who had engaged in illegal gambling and for Hirchson's political campaign.
Additionally, the police revealed several weeks ago that during a return trip from Poland in 1997, officials uncovered $250,000 in cash concealed in Hirchson's belongings.
Aides to the finance minister said Thursday evening that Hirchson was "in a fine mood, considering the circumstances."
Sources close to the minister said that he had no intention of resigning at the moment. However, other aides to Hirchson told Ynet that in spite of his denials, "He should have quit a long time ago."
In a recent interview with Channel 1, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said that "there is no reason to assume that Minister Hirchson was framed.
"In every case there is a theoretical possibility that someone is falsely accusing someone. As evidence accumulates, and as the origin of the evidence is more diverse and is not just one person, the statistical likelihood of such a possibility is small.
"I cannot rule out any possibility, particularly not when we are in the midst of an investigation, but I have no special reason to assume that this was the case," Mazuz added.
Lilach Shoval and Attila Somfalvi contributed to the report
