Former Israeli minister accused of bribery, fraud, treason, tax evasion

Former Israeli Member of the Knesset Binyamin Ben-Eliezer was accused yesterday of bribery, money laundering, fraud, treason and tax evasion, Israeli Public Prosecutor Yehuda Weinstein announced.

According to Arab48.com, which reported Israeli media, Ben-Eliezer was a minister between 2007 and 2014.

Based on complaints filed against him, he is suspected of demanding and receiving money from a number of business people and using the funds to buy properties. He is also suspected of using his influence as a Knesset member and as a minister to promote the businesses of his close associates.

Israel’s Ynetnews website reported: “Ben-Eliezer allegedly contacted businessman Avraham Nanikashvili, asking for and getting $400,000 in return for favours while he was minister of industry, trade and labour.”

“Ben-Eliezer is further suspected of contacting the Egyptian consul for businessman Roy Mutzafi several times, so that Mutzafi’s company would get worker permits there.”

It added: “In 2011, Mutzafi allegedly transferred NIS 260,000 [$67,085] for the purchase of a lot in Ness Ziona, owned by Ben-Eliezer’s wife and son… Ben-Eliezer contacted Mutzafi in 2012, asking him for NIS 500,000 [$128,999] to finance the purchase of a house in Jaffa, which Mutzafi later allegedly gave.”