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Israel's ambassador to the U.K., Zvi Heifetz, leaving the police's International Crimes Unit offices in Petah Tikva on Friday. (Motti Kimche)
Last update - 17:46 13/01/2006
Police question ambassador to U.K. in money laundering probe
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent

Police questioned Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Zvi Heifetz, Friday morning over a money laundering affair connected to a Bank Hapoalim branch in Tel Aviv.

Heifetz, a former business manager to Russian-Israeli tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky, was first approached by investigators two months ago.

The ambassador was questioned over allegations that Gusinsky's cash was "laundered" via bank accounts at the Hapoalim branch.

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During questioning Friday, police presented Heifetz with documents said to be incriminating.

Officials in the police's International Crimes Unit view Heifetz as a suspect in numerous other crimes unrelated to Gusinky.

Heifetz, a licensed attorney, was first summoned for questioning eight months after the affair first came to light due to the fact that questioning Heifetz is subject to approval by the attorney general, Menachem Mazuz.

After Mazuz allowed the investigation to proceed, police officials contacted the Foreign Ministry to inquire as to when Heifetz was next scheduled to arrive in Israel.

Shortly following his arrival in Israel in early November, police notified Heifetz that he was wanted for questioning. Investigators quizzed the ambassador over the various sums of money that were found lying in bank accounts registered to his and Gusinksky's names.

Heifetz is also the subject of two other investigations unrelated to Gusinky's alleged financial irregularities. Law enforcement officials requested that Heifetz transfer additional documents as potential evidence. It remains unclear, however, if authorities will indict Heifetz on any charge.

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