AG to check for criminal aspects in Bibi-tours affair

Yehuda Weinstein launches probe after receiving Netanyahu's travel records for period in which he served as Knnesset member

Aviel Magnezi|Published: 12.30.12 , 23:33

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has started looking into possible criminal aspects in the Bibi-tours affair on Sunday, three days after receiving Benjamin Netanyahu's travel records for the period in which he served as a Knesset member. The affair was first exposed by Channel 10 two years ago.

Last Thursday, State Comptroller Yosef Shapira submitted his draft report on the overseas travels of 30 officials who served as ministers and deputy ministers between 2003 and 2011, among them Netanyahu, who had served as finance minister between 2003 and 2005.

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The report does not include Netanyahu's travels during his stint as MK – the time period at the focus of Channel 10's exposé. The records for that period were directly delivered to Weinstein as Shapira was not sure whether as State Comptroller he was authorized to investigate MKs.

The attorney general will now check who is authorized to investigate the matter.

The Channel 10 report claimed that the PM accepted funding from private businessmen for trips for himself and his family while in public office.

The Justice Ministry said in response, "Lacking the authority to investigate travels of MKs who are not ministers, the State Comptroller has turned to the attorney general in order to consult with him on who should handle the materials in Netanyahu's case referring to the period he did not act as minister. The Justice Ministry is looking into the matter.