Investigators question Netanyahu over alleged receipt of gifts

Record ID: 163164

  • Title: Investigators question Netanyahu over alleged receipt of gifts
  • Date: 5th January 2017
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JANUARY 5, 2017) (REUTERS) STOP SIGN EXTERIOR OF RESIDENCE, REPORTERS OUTSIDE
  • Embargoed: 20th January 2017 16:06
  • Keywords: Israel Netanyahu investigation police
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City: JERUSALEM
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0035XT1PHJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Israeli police officers arrived on Thursday (January 5) to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem to question him under caution for a second time this week on suspicion of receiving gifts from businessmen, in breach of his role as a public servant.
    Police said the questioning session was carried out by senior investigators. A first interrogation that took place on Monday lasted three hours.
    In questioning a suspect under caution, police believe that the person they are interviewing has a case to answer.
    Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has told his political rivals not to expect his imminent downfall.
    The move to interview the Israeli leader was authorised by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who decided after a preliminary inquiry that there was enough evidence to open a criminal investigation. He has not detailed the suspicions.
    The left-wing Haaretz newspaper and other news outlets have said the probe relates to gifts worth "hundreds of thousands of shekels" ($1=3.85 shekels) given to Netanyahu by an Israeli and foreign businessmen.
    Channel 2, a commercial network, has said the investigation was one of two cases now open against the prime minister, although it said details of the second remained unclear.
    Netanyahu, 67, has been in power on and off since 1996. He is currently in his fourth term as prime minister and will become Israel's longest-serving leader if he stays in office until the end of next year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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