_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brenner")
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Photo: Yaron Brenner
Olmert questioned over home purchase
Prime minister questioned for 45 minutes by representatives of state comptroller over purchase of home
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with two representatives of the state comptroller at his residence in Jerusalem, and attempted to resolve questions over the purchasing of an apartment on Cremieux Street in the capital. The Prime Minister's Office said the meeting lasted 45 minutes.
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss is investigating suspicions that the purchase was carried out illegally. The state comptroller's office confirmed that a meeting was held between an investigation team and Olmert.
Earlier, the chief aide to the government's legal advisor, lawyer Raz Nazri, wrote that "the complaint against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, regarding the reception of bribery in the real estate deal has been transferred to the state prosecutor for an initial check."
In February of 2006 it was revealed that Olmert purchased an apartment in the Templarim neighborhood in Jerusalem, for a reduced price of USD 320,00, in exchange for an acceleration of the project.
Olmert bought the apartment – which is worth USD 1,320,00, at a price which seemingly created a loss for the sellers, and hundreds of thousands of dollars cheaper than its market price. With that, real estate agents familiar with the apartments market in the area claimed the price is reasonable.
