Borovsky interrogated over attempted bribery allegations

The police financial crime unit is interrogating Major General (ret.) Ya'akov Borovsky over claims that he tried to bribe his way into the post of national police chief.

State Prosecutor Eran Shendar ordered a criminal investigation into Borovsky's conduct last month.

A member of the Likud Party Central Committee claims that Borovsky, the advisor to State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss in the fight against corruption, allegedly tried to strike a deal with Omri Sharon, son of former prime minister Ariel Sharon, in which Borovsky would be appointed police chief in return for changing the team of investigators working on a case involving Ariel Sharon.

The story, which broke out on Channel 1, alleges that the head of the northern police district, Brigadier General David Siso, suggested to central committee member Salomon Karubi that in return for Borovsky's appointment as chief, it would be possible to make changes in the composition of the team probing one of the cases involving the elder Sharon.

It is still unclear which of the cases and teams of investigators the allegations involve.

Both Siso and Borovsky denied the allegations during the program.

According to the reporter, Ayala Hasson, Omri Sharon verified the details of the report.

A spokesperson for Sharon told Haaretz, however, that he was not interested in talking about the allegations.

According to the Channel 1 report, in 2004, on the eve of a decision on the appointment of the next police commissioner, Borovsky met with Karubi, a close associate of Omri Sharon, in an effort to further his chances of being appointed to the top police post.

Karubi, who was interviewed in the television story, refused to name the other senior police officer who was present during his alleged meeting with Borovsky, but in the report it was suggested that the officer in question may have been Siso.

In the interview Karubi said that the two officers allegedly asked him to "influence" Omri Sharon, and then "a senior officer" hinted that there was as chance of altering the composition of the team that was investigating a case involving the prime minister.

The supposition was that the officers may have been in a position to affect the investigation and make it more favorable to the prime minister, in return for the appointment of Borovsky as police chief.

Karubi claimed that he approached Omri Sharon twice on the matter, but that he refused to take any action, saying that "the old man [Ariel Sharon] will not interfere in these things. Whatever Tzahi Hanegbi [then minister of public security] will bring, that will be approved."

Ayala Hasson said in her report that Karubi sought to meet with State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss personally several days ago to give him materials related to the story, but he was asked to send in a request in writing.

Meanwhile, senior police officers said last week that "we knew that the struggle for the post of police commissioner was tense, and it was clear that it was politically influenced ... but if it turns out that Borovsky or his associates offered such a deal ... this is an unacceptable, scandalous development."

	Major General (ret.) Ya'akov Borovsky. (Itzik Ben-Malki)