Israel's Attorney General Menchem Mazuz on Tuesday decided to indict Israeli cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi on suspicion of having made political appointments during his tenure as environment minister.

The charge sheet includes allegations of fraud and breach of trust, elections-related bribery, perjury and swearing false oaths.

Following the reports on his indictment, Hanegbi said Tuesday afternoon that he has asked for his parliamentary immunity to be removed, Israel Radio reported.

The AG made his final decision based on a hearing held for Hanegbi some 45 days ago. The Justice Ministry said the arguments made by Hanegbi's attorney at the hearing "were examined closely, but it was ultimately decided to keep in place the decision to serve an indictment [against the minister]."

In 2004, the-then state comptroller Eliezer Goldenberg published a report with serious allegations against the minister on suspected political appointments in the years 2001 thru 2003.

In his report Goldenberg established that Hanegbi had improperly appointed in various positions, including fictitious ones, dozens of members of the Likud Central Committee and their family relatives.

In addition, the report said Hanegbi's cronies had won tenders run by the ministry for purchasing services, while favoring them because of their political affiliation and in violation of governmental tendering procedures.

Mazuz advised Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, Chairman of the Knesset House Committee MK Ruhama Avraham and Hanegbi's attorneys of his decision.

The indictment said "during his tenure as environment minister, the defendant acted in a planned and systematic manner, himself and through others, mainly the ministry's director general Shmuel Hershkowitz, to bring for the appointment of members of the Likud Central Committee, their sons, daughters, friends etc. for as many jobs and positions as possible at the Environment Ministry and in related bodies, while compromising the capability of the wide public to compete for these positions, at times without matching [the appointees'] skills and suitability for these roles."

In response to the indictment Hengbi's attorneys said their client's approach to appointments at the ministry was that "Likud people should not be disqualified just for being Likud members. The fact that only the professional office bearers at the ministry decided on accepting candidates for positions ensured that only suitable people would be selected."

"The indictment neglects to note that the absolute majority of candidates proposed by Hanegbi had been rejected by professional office bearers and that the absolute majority of new appointments during his tenure were not related to him in any way and were not proposed by [Hanegbi]."