Israel probes James Packer over lavish gifts

Australian casino mogul James Packer is once again back in the headlines several weeks after the indictment of his Crown marketing staff in China and his failed relationship with international singer Mariah Carey.

This time, Packer finds himself in hot water for allegedly showering the family of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with lavish gifts and benefits – including tickets to Carey’s show and expensive hotel stays.

Haaretz reported that Israeli authorities are digging deeper into the supposed ties between Packer, who is trying to gain residency in Israel, and Netanyahu. It was revealed that Packer is considered a close confidant of the prime minister.

So far, authorities have uncovered that Packer has opened his Tel Aviv apartment Netanyahu’s son Yair for few free nights and even paid the bill of the younger Netanyahu and Netanyahu’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in a luxury hotel in Greenwich Village.