Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Photo: AP
Tuesday: Police to question PM about Leumi privatization
Olmert will be questioned over suspicions that he altered government tender for Bank Leumi to favor bid lodged by friends
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
will be questioned by police on Tuesday over suspicions that he altered a government tender for the privatization of Bank Leumi to favor a bid lodged by a consortium controlled by his friends.
The suspicions surfaced in 2005 when Olmert served as acting finance minister.
Olmert is suspected of having sought to advance a bid for the controlling share of the bank filed by Frank Lowy and Daniel Abrams.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered the police to probe Olmert's conduct during the bank's privatization.
Last month, Mazuz ordered the police to launch an investigation into Olmert's purchase of a house in Jerusalem for a discount price.
Investigators will try to determine whether Olmert bought the house for over $300,000 cheaper than its market value in return for granting contractors illegal work permits during his time as the mayor of Jerusalem.
