The incoming governor of the Bank of Israel, Professor Yaakov Frenkel, is being probed by the Turkel Committee, suspected of stealing an item from a Hong Kong duty free store seven years ago.

While Frenkel’s appointment has already been approved, there is now a measure of doubt surrounding it, Globes reports. It appears that after Haaretz published the incident members of the Turkel Committee released information to the media that the appointment is on hold pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against Frenkel. Officials are trying to get hold of documents from Hong Kong while Frenkel is going to be summoned to police to tell his side of the story.

Frenkel released the following message: “This pertains to an incident that occurred seven years ago and it turned out to be nothing. Local authorities in Hong Kong concluded it was an unfortunate misunderstanding, and they apologized and thanked me for not filing a lawsuit seeking compensation. I expect to assume the post in October after the committee and cabinet approve the appointment. I view the post as a mission to benefit the economy of the State of Israel.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)