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Israeli Supreme Court on Monday demanded Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son Gilad hand over as soon as possible all documents and videotapes in two corruption probes involving the Sharon family.
The decision, which rejected Gilad's appeal of a lower court ruling, is expected to end an ongoing cycle of court decisions and subsequent appeals which has lasted more than eight months, and to allow police to complete their investigations of bribery cases.
A main legal issue was Gilad's claim that a requirement to handover documents in his possession included only documents in his actual possession and not any relevant documents that he can access, such as bank statements.
"The affair has raised substantial questions requiring the Supreme Court's involvement," wrote one of five justices on the court panel. "The time has come to finish the deliberation in this affair and fulfill the previous court injunctions."
Last week, the Supreme Court rebuked Gilad's appeal. During a two-hour hearing, the five justices repeatedly scoffed at both Gilad's conduct and his latest appeal.
Gilad's attorney, Micah Fettman, said his client would honor the ruling. Gilad himself is currently abroad.
Israeli State Prosecutor Edna Arbel on Sunday presented Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz a draft indictment against Sharon for his allegedly receiving a bribe from businessman David Appel in the so-called "Greek Island Affair."
The draft said Sharon accepted the bribe from real estate developer Appel via Gilad, and committed crimes of fraud and breach of trust. Mazuz is expected to take about a month to decide whether to press charges against the prime minister.
(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2004)
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