Billionaire Beny Steinmetz and Tal Silberstein to be released from detention

Billionaire Beny Steinmetz (photo) and Tal Silberstein, charged with bribe taking and money laundering in Israel, will be released from detention following an understanding reached by their lawyer with the judge in charge of the file.

According to information delivered by journalist Attila Somfalvi for Antena 3 TV, they will be placed under house arrest for 15 days. Both will be banned to leave Israel for 30 days.

Beny Steinmetz denies all charges against him.

Israeli billionaire Beny Steinmetz, a well-known strategic adviser (and former banker) and three other businessmen were detained for questioning on Monday over allegedly using fake contracts for money laundering.

As ‘Romania Journal’ informed early this week, Beny Steinmetz is investigated in Romania in files related to the retrocession of some plots of land from the former royal Baneasa Farm and from Snagov Forest to Paul Philippe of Romania (aka Prince Paul of Romania), regarding the involvement of defendants Tal Silberstein, Beny Steinmetz, Moshe Agavi and others in the retrocession procedures or about the purchase agreements related to those plots of land.

Benyamin Steinmetz allegedly was the leader of a network for illegal retrocession and the one who paid the money to buy influence, the Romanian prosecutors say.