The Asian Age

Netanyahu faces fresh quizzing

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Jerusalem, Oct. 5: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent a new round of questionin­g on Friday over one of several graft cases that have threatened to topple him, Israeli media reported.

The veteran premier's 12th round of questionin­g as a suspect in various cases comes two days before his wife Sara appears in court on charges of misusing state funds for catering at their official residence.

The prime minister has not been charged in any of the cases.

Netanyahu has been repeatedly questioned over allegation­s involving Israeli telecoms giant Bezeq and its largest shareholde­r, Shaul Elovitch. The premier is accused of seeking favourable coverage from another Elovitch company, the Walla news site, in exchange for policies that could have benefited the mogul's interests to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Netanyahu also faces interrogat­ion as a witness in a case involving the purchase of three German submarines.

Israeli television on Friday showed footage of police officers arriving at his office.

Israeli media reported that Friday's questionin­g will for the first time cover two further cases in which he is suspected of corruption, fraud and breach of trust.

In one, he and family members are suspected of receiving around 1 million shekels ($ 275,000) worth of luxury cigars, bottles of champagne and jewellery in exchange for financial or personal favours.

In the second, he is suspected of seeking a deal for positive coverage from Israel's top- selling daily newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, in exchange for advancing a law that would have limited the circulatio­n of Israel Hayom, a free competitor.

His wife Sara appears in court on Sunday.

 ??  ?? Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu

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