Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial is being delayed by more than two months because of his own restrictions enacted to contain the coronavirus, it was announced Sunday.
The 70-year-old leader was scheduled to appear in a Jerusalem district court on Tuesday to face charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals.
But the court announced Sunday that the high-profile trial was being adjourned until May 24 because of emergency health measures being enforced because of the spreading threat of COVID-19.
Those restrictions — including bans on gatherings of more than 10 people in public places — had been announced late Saturday by Netanyahu himself.
The court said it had been instructed to hear “only urgent matters” because of the escalating pandemic, according to Agence France-Presse.
It will be welcome news for Netanyahu’s legal team who recently tried — but failed — to get a delay in the hearing.
Netanyahu also revealed Sunday that he has been tested for coronavirus as a precautionary measure.
His office said he was asymptomatic before undergoing the test, which was also administered to officials working close to him. No results were given in the statement.
Israel has more than 200 confirmed cases of the virus — but no reported deaths — with tens of thousands of people in home quarantine.
He is set to stand trial accused of receiving expensive gifts from wealthy friends and offering to exchange favors with powerful media moguls.
The long-ruling Israeli leader denies any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a media-orchestrated witch hunt.
With Post Wires