State Prosecutor Eran Shendar decided Tuesday that there was insufficient evidence to launch a criminal investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert overtwo real estate deals he was involved in.
The decision referred to Olmert's acquisition of two apartments: One in Jerusalem's Nahlaot neighborhood, and another on the corner of Melchett and Sheinkin streets in Tel Aviv.
A letter sent by Shendar's deputy to Omets, the organization that demanded the launching of a criminal investigation against Olmert on the matter, read: "Following a preliminary examination of the case, the State Prosecution concluded that the complaint (filed by Omets) was not substantial enough to justify the launching of a criminal investigation."
"The statute of limitations applies to the complaint regarding the purchase of the apartment on 54 Shilo Street in Nahlaot," Attorney Yariv Regev wrote.
Last week Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered police to launch an investigation against the prime minister over the Investments Center affair and suspicions that he had made illegal appointments at the Small Business Authority during his tenure as Industry, Trade and Labor Minister.
A week earlier the police concluded their investigation against Olmert 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 Frank Lowy and Daniel Abrams.
The PM is also being probed over suspicions that he had purchased a Jerusalem flat 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 complex gain building permits illegally.
First published: 13:16, 10.23.7