’Israel’ Minister who Served Jail Time Faces New Crime Probe

Local Editor

The "Israeli" entity's authorities are to conduct a criminal investigation into new corruption allegations against Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, an ultra-Orthodox party leader who has already served prison time for graft.

"At the conclusion of a meeting held today by the attorney general [Avichai Mandelblit] regarding the examination relating to minister Deri and others... the attorney general decided to move from an examination to a criminal investigation," the justice ministry said late on Thursday.

It did not elaborate, other than to remind journalists of a court order barring publication of details of the probe into Deri, who has previously served 22 months in prison on graft charges.

The "Israeli" daily Maariv said that police were expected to question him under caution in the next few days.

The politician said he was ready to "respond to all questions."

Deri, who heads the "Israeli" party "Shas", became entity's so-called interior minister in January.

"Shas" is vital to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing governing coalition, which holds a one-seat majority in parliament.

Deri, who had served as interior minister from 1988 to 1993, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2000 for taking $155,000 in bribes, though his sentence was reduced by a third for good behaviour.

He resigned as so-called economy minister in November after refusing to overrule anti-trust authorities' objections to a major natural gas deal being pushed by Netanyahu.
His resignation allowed Netanyahu to take over the economy minister post himself and move ahead on the gas deal.

In January, critics of his appointment as interior minister said the post should not be granted to someone who had been convicted for corruption. Others argued that Deri had paid his debt to society.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team