The corruption is piling forward just like those unwanted pounds

Omri Sharon, son of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Israeli Knesset member has officially resigned his seat before his sentencing in court for violating Israeli campaign finance laws and prejury reports the Jerusalem Post:

Kadima MK Omri Sharon turned in his resignation to Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin's office Tuesday morning. Sharon had decided that he wanted to save his sentencing hearing for January 22 as a regular citizen and not as a Knesset member.

But the shadow of corruption and threats of criminal indictments continue to dog Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the Jerusalem Post carries this new report:

Police announced on Tuesday that they have collected evidence indicating that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon allegedly received $3 million from Austrian businessmen Martin and James Schlaff. The money, police suspect, may have been given as a bribe to Sharon to promote the Schlaff brother's business interests in Israel.

Part of the money, police said, was used by Sharon to repay illegal campaign contributions he received in the 1999 Likud primaries. The rest of the money, sources said, was pocketed by the Sharon family.

In court documents, obtained by The Jerusalem Post and first revealed by Channel 10 on Tuesday night, the police spelled out its suspicions against the prime minister and claimed to have evidence that the money was transferred to Sharon by the Schlaff brothers - known Austrian-Jewish businessmen. "During the investigation, evidence was found that points to the involvement of James Schlaff and his brother Martin in the transfer of $3 million to the prime minister's family," read the document, which was presented to the Rishon Letzion Magistrate's Court this week. "Part of the money was used to return illegal campaign contributions the prime minister received and had to return, and part remained in the hands of the Sharon family."

On December 22, after learning that James Schlaff was visiting Israel, police raided his parent's home here and confiscated two laptop computers, cellular phones and documents. "The new evidence is material that we did not have before and is certainly a positive turn in the investigation," one senior officer said.

I’m tempted to nickname this scandal Latke-gate in honour of the man who has eaten more than his share.