Last update - 00:00 08/11/2006
AG: New material raises suspicions of corruption against Lieberman
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent
New material uncovered during a probe of Minister for Strategic Threats Avigdor Lieberman raises suspicions that the minister is guilty of corruption, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz wrote to MK Michael Eitan (Likud) Tuesday.
The "origin and focus" of the probe's current phase is "new evidentiary material that raises prima facie suspicions of violations of the penal code" relating to corruption, Mazuz wrote. "The new evidence is not unrelated to the original suspicions, or at least that cannot be determined at this stage. Thus the old investigation cannot be closed at this time."
Mazuz emphasized that legal officials are aware of the prolonged nature of the investigation and of the discomfort that this causes both the public and Lieberman himself. Nonetheless, he said, "it is impossible to ignore the new material and the substance of the new suspicions."
Mazuz attributed the lengthy investigation to the need to conduct depositions abroad, a prolonged process by nature.
Eitan had written Mazuz that it was inappropriate for a democratic nation to keep a police file open for years, and that it is even more improper now that Lieberman has been appointed a minister.
Eitan also told Mazuz that if he considers it justified to continue investigating Lieberman, then it is inappropriate for Lieberman to head Nativ, an organization set up to liaise with Jews in the former Soviet Union, as this job involves handling confidential material. Mazuz replied that "there is no apparent connection between the affairs we are investigating and Nativ's operations."