In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Omri Sharon quizzed over campaign sleaze

Tuesday 02 September 2003, 0:23 Makka Time, 21:23 GMT

Anti-fraud officers have grilled Ariel Sharon's son Omri for nine hours over
a political party funding scandal.

Omri Sharon, a right-wing Likud party member of the Knesset, was held and
questioned by officers at Bat Yam police station, according to Israeli radio
reports.

He answered about 10% percent of their questions over illegal campaign
financing allegations surrounding his father's successful 1999 election bid.

The Sharon family is being investigated for allegedly violating campaign
finance laws, obtaining a $1.5 million loan from South African businessman
Cyril Kern in 1999.

The money was said to have been used to pay back illegal party contributions
in an attempt to cover their tracks.

Second interrogation

This is the second time that Omri has been questioned over his role in the
affair. In his February 2002 interview he exercised his right to remain
silent.

The on-going scandal surrounding the allegations has dented Sharon's poll
ratings though most media coverage has focused on the ever-increasing spiral
of violence in the Occupied Territories.

Ariel Sharon himself may also be questioned by police next week in
connection with the allegations.

Israeli detectives in February went to South Africa to question Kern but did
not bring any charges against him.

AFP

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