Hollywood tycoon questioned over bribing Israeli premier

Famous Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan has been interrogated in London over suspicions of bribing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Milchan was questioned last week as part of the so-called Case 1000 corruption investigation dealing with gifts given to Netanyahu and his family by businessmen, Haaretz reported on Wednesday.

In Case 1000, Netanyahu is suspected of having received gifts from businessmen overseas. He is also being investigated in Case 2000 for an alleged media bribery scheme to help the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper against its competitor Israel Hayom in return for favorable coverage.

Milchan had previously testified twice in the case, but it was the first time he was interrogated as a suspect.

In his previous testimonies, Milchan had confirmed suspicions that he delivered expensive gifts to Netanyahu and his wife in an attempt to influence the premier to help him promote his business in Israel and abroad.

Reports say Milchan’s statements during the questioning session affirmed the suspicions against him.

The 72-year-old Israeli-American Hollywood tycoon has been the producer of many famous and award-winning movies, including Fight Club, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Birdman, Noah, 12 Years a Slave and The Devil’s Advocate.

In a 2013 interview with Israel’s Channel 2, Milchan revealed that he had worked as an arms dealer and as an Israeli intelligence operative in the late 1970s.

He also talked about his involvement in clandestine deals to promote Israel’s nuclear activities.

According to a book titled Confidential: The Life of Secret Agent Turned Hollywood Tycoon Arnon Milchan, the movie tycoon was an operative for Israel’s Bureau of Scientific Relations, which collected information for Israel’s nuclear program.