The Israel Police National Serious and International Crimes Unit again questioned at its Petah Tikva offices Russian-Israeli tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky in the money laundering affair at Bank Hapoalim’s (LSE:BKHD; TASE:POLI) Hayarkon branch. Gusinsky, a controlling shareholder in Maariv Holdings Ltd. (TASE:MARV), has a fortune estimated at $5 billion. He was the first major customer of the branch questioned in the affair, and the police claim to have prima facie evidence that he took an active role in laundering tens of millions of dollar.
When the affair became public in February 2005, the police raided the offices of MOST, through which Gusinsky manages his business affairs in Israel, and seized thousands of documents.
Police sources told “Globes” that Gusinsky was being questioned again now because of the need to confront him with new information and other documents seized in various locations. The sources said the investigation was focused on Gusinsky personally, but that some of the financial crimes and “suspicious financial activity” at Gusinsky’s bank accounts at the Hayarkon branch were carried out by his associates, or by front men.
Over the past few months, the police have repeatedly questioned Israel’s Ambassador to the UK, Adv. Zvi Hefetz, Gusinsky’s right-hand man and representative on Ma’ariv’s board. Gusinsky and Hefetz cooperated with the investigators and answered questions, but denied the accusation leveled against them.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 29, 2006