Israeli attorney general says he will determine whether criminal investigation is necessary, but stresses prime minister is not a suspect

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has ordered a preliminary investigation into alleged fiscal misconduct at the private and state residences of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

The announcement follows a scathing report by the state comptroller, but the probe will not begin until after the 17 March elections, and Weinstein stressed that Netanyahu himself is not suspected of involvement in the misdemeanours.

The national watchdog’s findings, dealing with the official Jerusalem residence and Netanyahu’s private Ceasarea home, as well as the testimonies of a former employee at the residence, raised only mild suspicions, a statement from Weinstein’s office read.

“But the state attorney’s office believes that the variety of affairs justifies a probe, at the end of which it will be decided whether to launch a criminal investigation,” it said.

The alleged misconduct at the residences of Netanyahu, who is campaigning for re-election next month, included mishandling of funds from recycled bottles by Netanyahu’s wife Sarah, as well as the purchase of garden furniture for the weekend residence in Caesarea.

The report also insinuated public fund misconduct in the employment of an electrician for the Caesarea home on weekends and holidays.

Weinstein noted the importance of cautious conduct in the weeks leading up to elections.

“One must note that in the material accumulated to this point, there is no evidence that raises the suspicion of involvement of the prime minister himself in the said deeds,” the statement read.