Sharon fails to shake off bribe claims

[Wonk]

Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Saturday February 7, 2004
The Guardian

Ariel Sharon has failed to persuade police investigators that he did not receive bribes in return for political favours. But fraud detectives and prosecutors are divided on whether the Israeli prime minister should be indicted for corruption following his interrogation on Thursday.

Brigadier General Yohanan Danino, head of the international investigations unit that questioned Mr Sharon, favours closing the case without prosecuting him, the Haaretz newspaper reported yesterday.

However, his opinion is not thought to be shared by other senior investigating officers and prosecution lawyers.

The final decision will be made by Israel's new attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, who is reported to have set a higher standard of proof because an indictment will almost certainly result in the prime minister's resignation.

"If we were talking about an ordinary man, there is no question that an indictment would be filed," one senior law enforcement official told Haaretz.

more...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1143052,00.html

[madrchsod]

1. sounds like the

beginning of the perfect storm. Sharon gone along with Arafat`s party walk out.. could these two old corrupt fools finally be thrown out? it would certainly give people a chance to reassess the world they live in...

[sushi]

2. That says it all

"If we were talking about an ordinary man, there is no question that an indictment would be filed."

[Gimel]

4. An indictment

This is a suspicion. Most ordinary citizens would be indicted without a second thought if their was a suspicion that they were involved in bribery of the government. David Appel has been indicted. I don't think that Sharon will be, because if they forced him to resign because of that, and then was either proved innocent or the case dropped because of lack of evidence, then it would be historically a witch hunt.

Sharon didn't give them any evidence that would allow them to indict him. If indeed he helped Appel gain business contracts when he was in public service, it is irrelevant because the deal never got off the ground.

This is only one of the scandals involving Sharon and his son. The Greek Island scandal. The is a loan scandal as well, which could explain how Sharon got himself elected. It takes money to campaign and succeed.

[bluesoul]

5. So in your mind Sharon

is innocent of all charges?

[GabysPoppy]

6. Does the jury system mean anything to you?

I know John Asswipe doesn't think it necessary either.

[bluesoul]

7. I wish you would say the same

for every Arab leader you accuse (even Arafat) They can be guilty automatically just Sharon is questioned, even with all the charges and affairs he is involved with and investigations going on. Sure innocent until proven guilty. The same goes for Arafat, Gadafi etc... Or not?

[GabysPoppy]

9. You chose two wonderful examples to make a point

Oh my oh my.

[bluesoul]

10. I could

say the same about Sharon. A wonderful example. Not only of corruption, but blood on his hands...

[GabysPoppy]

11. We are not trading baseball cards here

Two Sharons does not equal an Arafat and Gadafi.

But now that we have lumped the bunch together.

You must make a choice to live under one of their regimes. Tell us which one of the three would you choose and why?

Choosing neither is not one of your options. A non answer is answer enough.

[bluesoul]

12. From such choices

Mars would be my option...

[GabysPoppy]

13. Sorry

Not one of your choices. But thanks for playing "To Tell the Truth" anyway. We have nice parting gifts for all our contestants. Now a break from our sponsers.

Today's show was brought to you by Van Der Lay Industries. George Costanza CEO. Regular programming will continue tomorrow after the holiday of "Festivus"




mods; Please note the sarcasm

[bluesoul]

14. I know in your mind I should have said

Israel, but that just would not be an option under Sharon and it's current policies, sorry.

[GabysPoppy]

15. Too late

Game is over. You may reapply to the producers of the show after the determined waiting period is over. But we did include the home version of the game for your enjoyment with the parting gifts.

You could have won an all expenses paid vacation to Disney world where you could have romped around with Mickey Arafat and Suja Arafat. They have that new ride, the "suicide flume" it just opened.



note to mods: sarcasm continues

[bluesoul]

16. Very funny

....

[GabysPoppy]

17. Finally a chuckle

Here I thought I was wasting some of my better material on you. You are one tough audience. I forgot to mention that ride (The Suicide Flume) was a killer.

[drdon326]

18. GP...

GREAT MATERIAL. I ENJOYED IT.

[Gimel]

8. Innocent?

Did I mention innocent? I think that like every other citizen he has the right to avoid incriminating himself. He was able to evade the inquisition. No doubt he heard Appel telling his son "G-d willing, you will make a lot of money." So what? Can they prove anything?

What is involved is if Sharon as a government official actually helped Appel achieve his aims. It is hard to prove, since Appel never achieved his aims. That is as far as I understand this matter. I don't' think they will be able to bring an indictment, and most likely this case would never have come about if Sharon had been an ordinary citizen of Israel.

[bluesoul]

3. Oh my

what a surprise! That such a man would be involved in something like this. But he is a hero, and "Man of peace" (TM) :eyes: