Messer may be witness for prosecution

The State Prosecution has informed the court that Attorney Uri Messer may serve as a witness in the suit against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Should this be the case, Messer would not be prosecuted on any charges.

Meanwhile businessman Morris Talansky is no longer considered a mere witness in the corruption investigation against Olmert, he is now a suspect witness.

The development was revealed after the Jerusalem District Court released the protocol of a recent hearing following a formal request made by Yedioth Aharonoth attorneys.

According to the record, State Prosecutor Moshe Lador demanded that his department receive full access to any and all information (pertaining to Talansky). "This witness is a suspect witness," said Lador.

Meanwhile, the court has ruled that Talansky's preliminary testimony will be given on May 25th, and, if necessary, could continue into the following two days.

Talansky has already been questioned under caution several times by police investigators from the National Fraud Unit. At present time he is suspected of having raised the funds which were subsequently transferred to Olmert through illegal channels.

Court officials involved in the investigation against Olmert said they are likely to request Talansky be

required to remain in Israel for an undetermined period of time. Olmert's attorneys have already said they will appeal the demand to have Talansky give an early testimony, however no appeal has been filed as of yet to the High Court.

Talansky requested he be allowed to testify and then immediately leave the country to attend to his wife, who is seriously ill, in the United States. Despite his request, court officials told Ynet on Monday night that, if necessary, "the hold-departure order delaying Talansky’s exit from Israel will be extended beyond Wednesday.”