Israeli police say minister should be charged with fraud

Israeli police on Tuesday recommended charges be brought against the interior minister in a major corruption case.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said there is an "evidentiary basis" that Aryeh Deri committed fraud and breach of trust, as well as millions of shekels in tax offenses and money laundering, and the disruption of court proceedings.

Police have questioned Deri and his wife on suspicion of receiving illicit payments from businessmen. They deny any crimes were committed.

Deri was previously sentenced to three years in prison for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in 2000 during his previous stint as interior minister in the 1990s. He served 22 months in prison but made a political comeback and retook the reins of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party in 2013.