The State Prosecutor's Office has recommended that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz launch a criminal investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Cremieux Street affair.
The investigation examined claims according to which Olmert bought an apartment in Jerusalem for a reduced price of NIS 320,000 (USD 75,000) from the Alumot real estate company during his tenure as industry, trade and labor minister, in exchange for accelerating the building project.
The investigation fell into the State Prosecutor's Office's hand after State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss transferred the material to Mazuz in April, recommending that the investigation against the prime minister continue.
Upon viewing the material, State Prosecutor Eran Shendar recommended a criminal investigation be opened, leaving Mazuz with the dilemma whether or not to probe the prime minister.
The Justice Ministry refused to comment on the mater, and only said that the investigation was in advanced stages.
In April 2007, Lindenstrauss recommended the investigation continue, and added that “other techniques that are not at the disposal of the comptroller’s office should be employed.”
The Prime Minister’s Office said in response that Lindenstrauss “tried hard to undermine the prime minister…and when this didn't work, he invented a baseless report and sent it to the attorney general."