Sharon’s son charged with corruption

A SON of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was yesterday charged with corruption in connection with fundraising activities for one of his father’s election campaigns.

Omri Sharon is suspected of setting up fictitious companies to conceal illegal contributions during the 1999 campaign, when his father won the chairmanship of the Likud Party and became its candidate for prime minister.

Mr Sharon’s term as prime minister has been marred by multiple scandals over shady campaign financing and real estate deals, but the prime minister himself has escaped indictment.

Omri is a member of the Israeli parliament. He has already agreed to waive his parliamentary immunity to face the corruption charges.

Attorney General Meni Mazuz said last month that he planned to indict Omri after negotiations to reach a plea bargain broke down.

According to the indictment, Omri received over €1 million in 1999 and 2000 from groups in Israel and overseas for his father’s campaign.

“These sums are significantly higher than allowed by the party finance laws,” the indictment said.

Omri could face up to five years in prison.

Prosecutors decided not to charge Ariel Sharon with involvement in the same scandal.