2009/06/09

Fraud plagues more Israeli politicians

Fraud plagues more Israeli politicians . A new wave of fraud scandals is gripping the Israeli government with former finance minister Abraham Hirchson convicted over a multimillion shekel fraud case.

An Israeli court on Monday found Hirchson guilty of stealing NIS 2.5 million from the National Workers Organization when he was the institution's head, Haaretz reported.

Daily news World The court rejected the arguments by Hirchson defense lawyers to minimize his involvement in the case.

Based on the indictment, NIS 12.3 million was funneled from the organization and an affiliated institution and the sum of money was divided between six people including the former minister.

The case is the latest in a series of scandals that put the honesty of Israeli officials under question. Former prime minister Ehud Olmert had to resign over his involvement in a corruption case.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is currently under police investigation for his involvement in a money laundering case.

A recent poll conducted by an anti-Corruption organization has revealed that the majority of Israelis believe their government is not seriously fighting against corruption.

The annual Global Corruption Barometer report released by Transparency International shows that 86 percent of Israelis --the highest level in the world--say the government's efforts to fight corruption are ineffective.

Doron Navot of the University of Haifa and the Israel Democracy Institute says in Israel "not only do the government and elected officials not fight political Corruption, but in recent years they see politicians and elected officials fighting the guardians - those battling against Corruption - and trying to weaken them and advance reforms that harm the fight against Corruption."

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