A probe with problematic timing

Police yesterday detained seven suspects for questioning in connection with the investigation of Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, which has thus far dragged on for nine years. The police also searched the suspects' houses, including Lieberman's daughter, Michal.

The police action is evidently connected with an ongoing investigation of Lieberman on suspicions of bribery, money laundering and falsifying corporate documents. However, these specific detentions and searches have their roots in an investigative report published by Haaretz in April 2007 about a company established by Michal Lieberman. Among other things, the police are investigating suspicions that Avigdor Lieberman, while serving as a minister, conducted business via his daughter's company.

This specific investigation has been underway for over a year. But the delay stemmed partly from legal action by some of Lieberman's associates, who sought to prevent the exposure of documents on the grounds that it would infringe on lawyer-client relationships. Last August, the Supreme Court rejected various appeals on this issue, paving the way for a comprehensive probe.

Investigations of public figures or their associates shortly before an election are problematic. This is not necessarily due to suspicions that the police are actually motivated by political considerations, but rather because it creates the appearance of such a motive, and of an increased risk of a candidate being harassed.

As a result, former attorney general Elyakim Rubinstein ruled that while investigations of cases involving elected officials should not be put on hold, the police should avoid summing up the results of such probes until after an election due to the "sensitivity" of this matter - unless they conclude that a case should be closed for lack of guilt. In this case the suspect is entitled to have his name cleared immediately.

Current Attorney General Menachem Mazuz issued similar orders before the last election. This stance is rooted in the desire to avoid mixing investigations with elections, in part due to fears that public figures might be harassed.

Lieberman has frequently made inappropriate and unfounded accusations against the law enforcement system as a whole. But despite this, and in fact precisely because of it, the police ought to refrain from using investigative tactics such as searching the homes of his associates shortly before an election. Absent a real fear that the suspects will destroy evidence or coordinate their testimony - in which case urgent action would be required - the police ought to gird themselves with patience over the next two weeks. And after that, they should finish the investigation of Lieberman as quickly as possible.