Home > Israeli envoy to U.K. questioned in money-laundering probe

Israeli envoy to U.K. questioned in money-laundering probe

by Open-Publishing - Thursday 17 November 2005

Police - Repression International UK

By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent

Israeli Ambassador to Britain Zvi Hefetz was questioned Friday by the police international investigations unit over suspicions he was involved in money laundering of the Bank Hapoalim accounts of businessman Vladimir Gusinsky.

Hefetz recently acted as Gusinsky’s agent in Israel.

Police began an investigation into the affair about six months ago, after suspicions were raised that the bank’s Hayarkon branch in Tel Aviv had allegedly been involved in money laundering to the tune of $250 million, perhaps with the knowledge of a member of the bank’s management.

The investigation has included interviews with senior officials at the bank, among them former Bank Hapoalim CEO Eli Yonas.

Other officials have been arrested following questioning, such as the branch manager, the head of customer service and the head of its Commonwealth of Independent States desk.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/645288.html