The Israeli police have opened an investigation of Minister of Defense Benjamin Ben Eliezer, who is suspected of accepting bribes from businessmen, fraud and breach of trust, and obtaining benefits by fraud, according to the Israeli financial website, Globe, which cited no sources.
The report said the investigation began after the International Crimes Unit “accumulated a large quantity of investigative material giving rise to suspicions that Ben Eliezer and some of his relatives are involved in various, apparently improper real estate deals.”
Globe said also that the investigation was based, among other things, on many months of court-approved electronic surveillance of other individuals.
The electronic surveillance gave rise to suspicions that the key minister had violated laws related to real estate, Globes said, adding that the investigators had collected a large amount of material on Ben Eliezer's actions and decisions as Minister of Housing and Construction.
Globe claimed that they also found information leading the police to suspect that, apparently thanks to his active involvement, some of his relatives received favors in the course of their real estate deals.
Ben Eliezer is expected to be questioned within a few weeks, said the report, which did not include a response from the minister – Albawaba.com
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