Things are not looking good for Shas party leader Aryeh Deri and his wife Mrs. Yaffa Deri, as they are scheduled to be questioned by the Israel Police Lahav 443 Unit for a second time, once again ‘under warning’. When one is advised s/he is questioned ‘under warning’, police are signaling that they have sufficient evidence that an indictment in the case is most likely.

The Deris were questioned for an entire day last week, and there have already been rumors of contact between Shas and former party leader Eli Yishai, perhaps preparing for the eventuality that Deri will be indicted.

As was the case during last week’s questioning, the two will be questioned in different rooms on allegations of tax evasion in real estate dealings as well as law breaking activities pertaining to running the ‘מפעלות שמחה’ NGO.

Channel 2 News reported over the weekend that a “senior official involved” says the evidence against Deri is “moderate to very weak” regarding the NGO case, however, regarding the tax evasion case, “the evidence against him is totally solid”. This latter case also seems to involve money laundering.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)