Olmert dismisses charges
Photo: AP
Journalist: Olmert received apartment bribe
Journalist Yoav Yitzhak says acting prime minister got apartment discount in exchange for expediting construction permits. Olmert: Claims are ridiculous and untrue
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received a USD 320,000 discount on an apartment in an upscale Jerusalem project in exchange for expediting construction permits, journalist Yoav Yitzhak charged Tuesday.
The apartment was purchased in October 2004 for USD 1.2 million, which according to Yitzhak means the developers lost money on the transaction.
The journalist says a separate case currently probed by the State Comptroller – another Olmert house, which reportedly sold for more than the market price – pales in comparison to the amounts of money involved in the other deal.
Yitzhak claims that Olmert expedited construction permits on behalf of the contractors while he served as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and oversaw the Israel Land Administration.
The developers admitted to giving Olmert a discounted price, but said they did so because Olmert was the first to purchase an apartment in the project.
The Prime Minister's Office, however, dismissed the charges.
"Today, as is the case every day, Yoav Yitzhak tries to 'expose a new sensation', and today, as is the case every day, the exposure has no truth to it".
The response also notes that Olmert contract with the developers clearly notes he is entitled to cancel the deal if the contractor cannot obtain all the permits.
"In complete contradiction to Yoav Yitzhak's claims, thus far, a year and half after the transaction, the project didn't obtain the permits," the statement reads.
Meanwhile, according to real-estate agents familiar with the area in question, Olmert paid a legitimate, fair price, considering the location and the fact the acting prime minister purchased the apartment long before it is slated to be completed.
Ronny Sofer, Neta Sela and Ido Efrati contributed to the report
