Ex-FM Lieberman’s trial opens on fraud, breach of trust charges

Former Foreign minister and Israeli Beitenu party leader Avigdor Lieberman pleaded not guilty Sunday at the magistrate’s court in Jerusalem at the opening of his trial on charges of fraud and breach of trust. Lieberman denied charges that he improperly promoted former ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben-Arye to reward him for an illegal leak of information about major cases against the former minister, which were subsequently dropped. His conviction of charges entailing moral turpitude would exclude Lieberman for public office for seven years and force his resignation from the Knesset.   The hearing was adjourned until late April.

.