Israel detains billionaire in corruption probe

Israeli police on Monday detained five suspects as part of a wide-ranging money laundering investigation that targeted a renowned billionaire and high-profile political adviser.

Police said they were "investigating a number of suspects since the morning on suspicion that they worked systematically with the main suspect in order to produce and present fictitious contracts and transactions, including in the field of real estate in a foreign country, for the purpose of money transfers and money laundering."

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High-profile figures

The operation marked the second time Beny Steinmetz, an Israeli diamond magnate, was held by Israeli authorities since December, when he was placed under house arrest following a corruption probe into mining deals in the West African nation of Guinea.

Tal Silberstein, an adviser to Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, was also targeted by the operation, prompting the Social Democratic Party of Austria to cut ties with him.

"We have parted with an adviser who had played a very important role in the team of Chancellor Christian Kern for a long time," said a statement from the party.

Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq said David Granot, its interim chairman, was detained, but that the police investigation did not concern its entities.

Denying allegations

However, Steinmetz told a magistrates court on Monday that the allegations were unfounded, adding that the claims formed part of a political persecution campaign funded by Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros.

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Last year, Romania authorities charged Steinmetz with forming an organized criminal group and money laundering in a case that cost Bucharest $145 million (123 million euros). According to Forbes, Steinmetz has a net worth of $1.02 billion.

The court ordered Steinmetz and Silberstein's remands be extended for an additional four days.

ls/rc (AFP, dpa)