Israeli ex-Foreign Affairs minister in fraud trial

The trial of Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman begins after he was indicted on charges of frayd and a breach of trust involving the former ambassador to Belarus Ze'ev Ben-Ari.

The trial will be conducted before a panel of three judges upon the request made by the prosecution against Lieberman, who resigned from his post as foreign minister last month, after his indictment was announced.

It is suspected that Ben-Ari informed Lieberman about investigations being carried out into his affairs in Belarus. A note is believed to have been passed from Ben-Ari to the minister with the company name and bank account that were being looking into by the police. 

The ambassador was charged with obstructing justice and was convicted in a plea bargain after his confession. Lieberman allegedly acted to promote Ben-Ari after the incident, which forms the basis of the indictment. 

A major case against Lieberman involving an alleged receipt of huge sums of money from companies he used to control while holding public office was dropped without indictment by Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein.

He has denied the allegations made against him and has stated that he is eager to vindicate himself in court.