Hirchson
צילום: עטא עוויסאת
Police question Hirchson for fourth time
Finance minister questioned once again over his alleged involvement in embezzlement affair
Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson was questioned by police for the fourth time Thursday over his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of funds from non-profit organizations.
After his previous questioning by the Financial Crime Unit last week, police officials said that there seems to be sufficient evidence to indict the finance minister.
According to the sources, the police have already obtained enough evidence against Hirchson prior to investigating him, and the questionings were primarily aimed at ascertaining some points and get the minister's response to the allegations.
The finance minister is suspected of having used funds embezzled from the non-profit Nili organization, associated with the National Workers' Organization, to finance a political campaign and cover the illegal gambling debts of one of Nili's directors.
The embezzlement allegedly took place while Hirchson headed the workers' association.
It is also believed that Hirchson embezzled funds from other non-profit organizations, including The March of the Living and the Yuvalim pension fund.
Additionally, the police revealed several weeks ago that during a return trip from Poland in 1997, officials uncovered $250,000 cash concealed in Hirchson's belongings.
In the meantime, Hirchson has been avoiding attending public events, and will apparently refrain from attending the March of Living in Poland this year.
