Israeli Attorney-General, Yehuda Weinstein, informed Israel’s Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, that he is facing serious charges of money laundering, witness-tampering and fraud. Weinstein told Lieberman that he will be allowed to plead his case in person before the court decides whether to indict him or not. Such charges could force him to resign similar to the resignation that was submitted by former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and former Israeli President, Moshe Katzav.
Reuters reported that decision was made while Lieberman attended a conference for his extremist Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party. The Foreign Minister made no comment after he heard the latest developments.
Lieberman is believed to have laundered millions of Israeli shekels to fake companies and to accounts that belong to close associates.
Following extensive and careful questioning of Lieberman, the Israeli Police initially said that bribery chargers would also be brought against the Foreign Minister, but the statement that was released Wednesday did not mention bribery.
Should Lieberman officially face an official indictment, Israeli Prime Minister,
Benjamin Netanyahu, would be required to fire him, or have him step down as stated by a ruling issued by Israel’s High Court in 1993.
