Police reject criticism over PM indictment recommendation

Israel Police rejected on Monday claims that it had exceeded its authority by recommending that an indictment be filed against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Sunday evening saw the police announce that the 18-month investigation into alleged corruption by the prime minister has concluded, and that it will recommend the State Prosecutor's Office file fraud and bribery charges against him over the 'Rishontours' and Morris Talansky affairs.

Retired Justice Eliyahu Winograd, who headed both the Winograd Commission on the Second Lebanon War and the committee tasked with the regulation of publications derived from police investigations, said earlier that he believed the police decision to recommend indicting Olmert for bribery was detrimental to due process, since it put unnecessary pressure on the State Prosecutor's Office.

Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann later accused the department of being responsible for impeaching an acting prime minister.

According to senior police officials, the law doesn't prohibit the police from including an indictment recommendation in its case files before transferring it to the State Prosecutor's Office.

It is the duty of every investigator, the officials added, to point out the evidence gathered and estimate whether it warrants an indictment.

According to them, this process also coincides with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's directives, according to which the police summary of the case must include a detailed analysis of the existing evidence and must address legal questions pertinent to the case.

Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter backed the police decision to publish its indictment recommendation, saying "the Israeli Police Department did its job and did it well, a fact I'm sure Minister Friedmann is well aware of".

As for Judge Winograd's comments, the internal security minister said that "(Winograd) doesn't have all the facts. If he did he would express himself differently."