[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Israel Radio confirmed the story]

Hirchson suspends himself for 3 months
Finance minister, suspected of theft, makes decision over weekend to suspend
himself from office until completion of investigation, Yedioth Ahronoth
reports. Hirchson expected to inform prime minister of his decision Sunday
Attila Somfalvi YNET Latest Update: 04.22.07, 09:20 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3390662,00.html

Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson, who is suspected of theft, has decided to
suspend himself until the end of his investigation, Yedioth Ahronoth
reported Sunday.

The minister's associates were informed of his decision over the weekend,
and he is expected to officially announce it to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
on Sunday. Olmert will then be forced to find a temporary replacement for
the role.

One of the people mentioned as a replacement was former Finance Minister
Haim Ramon, who was also forced to quit his post after facing criminal
charges.

On Saturday, police continued to insist that there was sufficient evidence
to indict Hirchson on charges of embezzlement.

Major-General Yohanan Danino, head of the Intelligence and Investigations
Department in the Israel Police, and Brigadier-General Yoav Segalovich, head
of the investigation committee on Hirchson, are scheduled to meet with
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz Sunday, to brief him on the investigation.
This is the third such meeting with the attorney general.

Hirchson is expected to be questioned in the upcoming week or two, for the
fifth time, by the police's Financial Crime Unit.

A week ago, Hirchson was questioned for six hours. Because he is suspected
of laundering funds, including tax funds, the investigation contained
officials from the Tax Authority.

Hirchson continues to deny the allegations

The police claim to have strengthened their case that Hirchson embezzled
funds from the non-profit Nili organization (associated with the National
Workers' Organization) while he headed the workers' association.

Hirchson is accused of using the funds to finance a political campaign and
cover the illegal gambling debts of one of Nili's directors.

Police have yet to conclude investigations on the charges that Hirchson
embezzled funds from other non-profit organizations, including The March of
the Living and the Yuvalim pension fund.

Hirchson continues to deny the allegations. Regarding large sums of money
transferred to his bank account, the finance minister continues to claim
that they were transferred by his son, Ofer, and by a relative living in
Switzerland, who allegedly helped Hirchson financially when his wife was
sick.

Efrat Weiss contributed to the report

First Published: 04.22.07, 07:22