Olmert's 7th interrogation ends after 5 hours
National Fraud Unit investigators arrive at prime minister's official Jerusalem residence for another questioning session, this time on purchase of house on Cremieux Street, according to Olmert's aides; PM's wife also testifies. Court rules no escape from cancelling Talansky testimony scheduled for next week
Investigators of the police's National Fraud Unit, headed by Deputy Inspector General Shlomi Ayalon, arrived at the Prime Minister's Residence about an hour before the interrogation was scheduled to begin in order to prepare the material and recording equipment.
The interrogation was originally expected to last about two and a half hours, but the investigators only left the house five hours later.
According to Olmert's associates, the prime minister was questioned on the purchase of a house on Jerusalem's Cremieux Street. Olmert's wife Aliza also testified on the matter.
Olmert is suspected of purchasing a garden apartment on Cremieux Street in the capital from a friend for a price $320,000 cheaper than the property's market value in return for helping the construction firm that refurbished the apartment block gain illegal building permits.
Law enforcement sources said earlier that the interrogation would focus on the Investment Center improprieties during Olmert's tenure as industry, trade and labor minister, on funds he received from American businessman Morris Talansky and on allegations that he financed private trips abroad for his family by receiving duplicate travel expenses from different public bodies.
The sources said that the case would be handed over to the State Prosecutor's Office next month. "We have enough evidence and we will recommend that the prime minister be indicted," one official said.
At the end of the interrogation, the police investigators briefed Major-General Yoav Segalovich, head of Lahav 433, known as "the Israeli FBI", and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on its findings.
Cross-examination cancelled for now
Meanwhile Friday, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that there was no escape from cancelling the next part of Talansky's testimony following the key witness' request to delay the court session scheduled for next week due to his refusal to return to Israel following an investigation launched against him in the United States.
A new date for the cross-examination, which was scheduled to begin Sunday, has yet to be set.
Earlier, Olmert's attorneys submitted their response to Talansky's request, stating that they viewed his appeal to the court, only two days before the scheduled hearing, with severity.
According to the lawyers, the court sessions scheduled must be cancelled. They clarified that at this stage they were not asking the court to completely disqualify Talansky's testimony.
The lawyers asked the court to hear Talanky's testimony only after his investigation by the US authorities is completed, and demanded to receive all the material collected by the police in Israel and the US before the cross-examination continues.
Aviad Glickman contributed to this report
