Federal prosecutors examine Kerik loan

NEW YORK, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors say ex-New York police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik repaid a $250,000 loan within days of investigators asking questions about it.

Prosecutors allege Kerik had failed to disclose the loan, as required by law, when the Bush administration named him to train Iraqi police in 2003, The New York Times reported Saturday.

Kerik repaid the loan in 2005 when city investigators began examining it, according to a 16-count indictment charging Kerik with tax evasion and fraud, the Times reported.

The loan was made to Kerik by Eitan Wertheimer, an Israeli billionaire, whose family's holdings include contracts with the U.S. Defense Department, the Times reported, noting Wertheimer has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Kerik obtained the loan in June 2003 while in Iraq on leave from Giuliani Partners, the consulting firm of former New York mayor and Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani. Kerik resigned from Giuliani's firm in 2004 after withdrawing his nomination as federal Homeland Security secretary.