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Israeli president investigated on suspicion of bribery

August 11, 2014 at 2:36 pm

Israel’s Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein yesterday granted permission to the police to investigate the country’s newly elected President Reuven Rivlin on suspicion of receiving bribes from an Israeli businessman 10 years ago.

Israel’s Channel 2 said the police was merely examining some files and not conducting a thorough investigation.

Rivlin is under investigation over his alleged relationship with the Israeli businessman David Apple, who is currently serving a three and a half year jail sentence for bribery.

According to the intelligence, Rivlin received thousands of shekels on a monthly basis from Apple nearly a decade ago.

Rivlin claimed the case had been examined a few years ago by judicial advisers and the file was closed at the time.

A sex scandal toppled Israel’s former President Moshe Katsav two years ago after he was charged with sexual harassment and the rape of several office employees. Katsav is currently serving a seven-year sentence.