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Police 'to pursue' Lieberman case | Police 'to pursue' Lieberman case |
(9 minutes later) | |
Israeli police have recommended that the country's ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman should face corruption charges, media reports say. | Israeli police have recommended that the country's ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman should face corruption charges, media reports say. |
The police say that Mr Lieberman should be charged with offences including corruption, embezzlement and money-laundering, sources say. | |
The police probe has been under way for the past 13 years. | The police probe has been under way for the past 13 years. |
Mr Lieberman has consistently denied any wrong-doing and says the inquiry is politically motivated. | Mr Lieberman has consistently denied any wrong-doing and says the inquiry is politically motivated. |
A final decision on whether to press charges will now be taken by Israel's most senior legal official, the attorney general. | A final decision on whether to press charges will now be taken by Israel's most senior legal official, the attorney general. |
In a statement, Mr Lieberman said: "The police have been chasing me for 13 years now. | In a statement, Mr Lieberman said: "The police have been chasing me for 13 years now. |
"If they have real evidence, the investigation would not have taken more than 10 years. There is no basis for this indictment." | "If they have real evidence, the investigation would not have taken more than 10 years. There is no basis for this indictment." |
The accusations are believed to relate to a company run by Mr Lieberman's daughter. | |
In April - days after being sworn in as foreign minister - Mr Lieberman faced more than seven hours of police questioning over the allegations against him. | |
His appointment had already been seen as controversial. | |
Mr Lieberman has said Israel is not bound by a US-sponsored agreement from 2007 to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians. Palestinian officials have described him as an "obstacle to peace". |