An aide to Ehud Olmert said
Tuesday in response to the State Prosecution’s instruction tolaunch an
investigation against the prime minister that “In light of the intentional and vicious leaks during the PM’s visit to China, the announcement on the opening of a criminal investigation is not surprising.”
State Prosecutor Eran Shendar has notified Olmert of the launching of an investigation against him over his alleged involvement in the tender for the privatization of Bank Leumi.
“Prime Minister Olmert is proud of the sale of Bank Leumi under his tenure as finance minister,” an aide said. "The process was supervised by top Finance Ministry officials, who reported on its every phase.”
Olmert’s aides said that after reviewing his conduct during the process the prime minister reached that conclusion that his decision-making process during the selling of the Bank Leumi shares was not flawed.
“It is worth mentioning that three former prime ministers were probed over various affairs, but the investigations came up empty,” one aide said. “We are certain that his will be the case in this affair as well.
“We call on the law enforcement authorities to do their jobs as fast as possible to dispel this cloud," the aide said.
Member of Knesset Ran Cohen (Meretz) addressed the decision to open a criminal investigation Olmert by saying, "this is the beginning of the end for Olmert."
"Good for the law enforcement agencies for deciding for going for the head and sending the message to people of all ranks that corruption will have no refuge," he said.
Candidate for Labor Party chairman MK Ami Ayalon said, "The situation requires the Labor Party to prepare for the possibility of early elections, with a primary issue – fighting corruption and regaining public trust."
Last October, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss asked Mazuz to launch an investigation into Olmert's role in the affair arguing that he had found enough evidence pointing that the prime minister, along with additional parties, were bribed during the sale of the majority shares in Bank Leumi in 2005.
The allegations claim that Olmert, who was Minister of Finance at the time, apparently broke the law for two of his friends – Daniel Abrams and Frank Lowy – with whom he conducted, directly and indirectly, a relationship plagued by bribes.
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