MK (Labor) Binyamin Ben-Eliezer was questioned by police of the 433 Unit for a second time on Wednesday, 13 Sivan, this time for 3.5 hours. The MK is under investigation on suspicion of receiving illegal money and tax evasion. Police are trying to determine the source of the money used to pay for his 9 million shekel luxury penthouse.

One of the issues being probed is the $400,000 he received from Avraham Nanikashvili. Ben-Eliezer presented a signed loan agreement to explain the money, which states the sum must be repaid within a half year. That is dated 2012 but police believe the document was drawn up after the fact to hide the fact the money was given to Ben-Eliezer in exchange for political favors. Ben-Eliezer explains that he was counting on a certain bank loan which ultimately was not approved and that is why the loan was not repaid to date.

Regarding the money found in his safety deposit box, $600,000, Ben-Eliezer explains that $52,000 is his money and the remainder belongs to his son, Ofir, who lives in the United States.

Police are now waiting to Ofir to arrive so he can be questioned in the case. Ben-Eliezer tells the media he has nothing to hide and he remains confident the matter will be cleared up.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)