Sharon fails to shake off bribe claims [View All]

[Wonk]

Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Saturday February 7, 2004
The Guardian

Ariel Sharon has failed to persuade police investigators that he did not receive bribes in return for political favours. But fraud detectives and prosecutors are divided on whether the Israeli prime minister should be indicted for corruption following his interrogation on Thursday.

Brigadier General Yohanan Danino, head of the international investigations unit that questioned Mr Sharon, favours closing the case without prosecuting him, the Haaretz newspaper reported yesterday.

However, his opinion is not thought to be shared by other senior investigating officers and prosecution lawyers.

The final decision will be made by Israel's new attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, who is reported to have set a higher standard of proof because an indictment will almost certainly result in the prime minister's resignation.

"If we were talking about an ordinary man, there is no question that an indictment would be filed," one senior law enforcement official told Haaretz.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1143052,00.html