Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was questioned Monday night for more than three hours by police at his residence in eastern Occupied Jerusalem over suspicions he received illegal gifts and money from businessmen.
According to the Jerusalem Post daily the head of the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit Dep.- Ch. Koresh Barnur arrived at the Prime Minister’s Residence early Sunday evening.
Police were with the prime minister for a little over three hours before leaving his residence around 11 p.m. after the first of what is expected to be several interrogation sessions the same source reported adding that police would not provide any further details.
Netanyahu – who has denied the allegations – is suspected of receiving improper gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels from Israeli and foreign businessmen in a manner which breached his duty of trust as a public servant.
Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit issued a statement after the completion of the questioning confirming that the probe has become a full-fledged criminal investigation.
Mandelblit said Netanyahu has been accused of ethics breaches and that his office gathered sufficient evidence to justify ordering a full criminal investigation.
Mandelblit said many investigative activities were undertaken including questioning dozens of interviewees and obtaining a large volume of documents including from foreign citizens.
Multiple sources said Netanyahu was confronted during the investigation with testimony from two businessmen he had alleged ties to.
Earlier on Monday the prime minister continued to feign confidence that the investigation into graft allegations against him would lead nowhere.
On Monday morning the Prime Minister’s Residence was closed off and a black partition was erected on the gate to keep out the eyes of the media.
There is allegedly a second more serious case against Netanyahu the details of which remain unknown. Channel 2 alluded to the possibility of the more severe charge being related to an attempt to receive a bribe.
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) said it is a difficult day for the country when its prime minister is under investigation.
“We are not happy for his misfortune” Herzog stated. “This is a country with a rule of law and we must respect law enforcement.”
Over the weekend Netanyahu issued various responses denying all accusations and insinuating his accusers of trying to implicate him with the police since they could not beat him at the ballot box.
