Israel to announce decision on Lieberman indictment

Israel's Justice is set to announce on Thursday whether or not an indictment will be processed against the foreign minister Lieberman, the Ha'aretz daily reported Wednesday. According to earlier reports in local media, the major allegations against Lieberman of fraud, money laundering and witness tempering will not make it to the final indictment, as the prosecution had difficulties getting the witnesses to testify against the foreign minister. It is more likely that if an indictment will be delivered, it would be on the breach of trust offense, based on allegations he received information about the police probe against him from Israel's then-ambassador in Belarus Ze'ev Ben-Arye. Last Month, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein said a decision on the 12 years investigation against Lieberman on charges of fraud, money laundering and witness tempering would arrive within a month. Lieberman is running along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a joint list which is expected to receive a majority of the votes in January 22. According to an earlier draft of an indictment, Lieberman is suspected of receiving millions of dollars from private business people via straw companies while presiding as a Knesset ( parliament) member and a cabinet member, between 2001 and 2008. He was also suspected of receiving large sums of money from Austrian-Jewish businessman Martin Schlaf and attempting to obstruct an investigation. In May 2010, the Israeli police recommended charging Lieberman for breach of trust, regarding a suspicion of him obtaining classified information regarding his interrogation. In case criminal charges will be filed against Lieberman, and his appointment as a future cabinet minister will be approved by the Knesset, a legal team will review the appointment which would probably authorize the Knesset's approval. Another option is that a plea bargain will be reached and the big question will be whether or not pleading guilty would carry moral turpitude along with it. Lieberman had already gone through three pre-indictment hearings with the state attorney.