Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a 'criminal investigation' over bribery and fraud claims after police were handed new documents in the case, it has emerged.

Police have been looking into allegations made about the Israeli Prime Minister for the last nine months and have now asked permission to launch a full probe.

The 67-year-old has denied the 'nonsense' claims, which he says have surfaced in an attempt to 'bring his downfall'.

Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a 'criminal investigation' over bribery and fraud claims, it has emerged

But detectives have applied for the go ahead to investigate from Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and want to start a formal probe into alleged bribe-taking and aggravated fraud, according to Haaretz.

This is said to relate to alleged donations.

Police are said to have received new documents in the case and believe a full criminal investigation will be opened in the next few days, according to the Times of Israel.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister told Haaretz: 'It’s all nonsense. Since Netanyahu’s victory in the last elections and even before, hostile elements have used heroic efforts to attempt to bring about his downfall, with false accusations against him and his family.

'This [latest attempt] is absolutely false. There was nothing and there will be nothing.'

Police have been looking into allegations made about the Israeli Prime Minister for the last nine months and have now asked permission to launch a full probe

Detectives are also said to be looking into allegations Mr Netanyahu accepted £850,000 from French businessman Arnaud Mimran, who is in jail for carrying out a carbon-tax fraud.

The Independent reports that Mimran claimed during his own trial that he had donated the money to Mr Netanyahu during the Israeli election campaign seven years ago. Mr Netanyahu has denied the claims.

Mimran claimed to have donated the money to Mr Netanyahu during the 2009 Israeli election campaign - something the politician has consistently denied.