State says has solid case against Olmert

VIDEO - Sources in the State Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday that they had a solid case against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Rishon Tours double-billing affair, and more than enough evidence to secure a conviction. Video courtesy of Infolive.tv Earlier in the evening, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced that he was contemplating filing an indictment against the prime minister in the case but noted that the final decision still pends a judicial hearing. Nevertheless, the sources insisted, the State has sufficient evidence to guarantee a conviction, and the chances that the hearing's outcome would lead to anything but an indictment, are slim. Should Olmert be indicted, he may face severe charges, each carrying a mandatory prison sentence: Fraud , breach of trust, falsifying corporate documents (three years for each), receiving illicit benefits – a charge to which an aggravated circumstances clause applies (five years) and tax evasion, which carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison. According to Mazuz, Olmert had "systematically defrauded" the State, the tax authorities and various public bodies over an extended time period – double billing between 13 and 15 trips. 'Public has the right to know' Mazuz, added the sources, decided to make his announcement now, feeling that there was no need or reason to keep the public from knowing the status of the case against the prime minister especially considering the severity of the offenses in question. No decision has been made in the Talansky case, but according to the sources, it is likely that Olmert would be indicted in that case as well. The State Prosecutor's Office is currently awaiting the US Justice Department's decision on whether or not Morris Talansky would be granted immunity in the case pending against him in the US courts. As for Olmert's camp criticizing the timing of the decision, the State Prosecutor's Office said that had they waited any longer, they would have been accused of stalling. The next step is to see the Talansky case through, added a legal source, "and if we have to we'll include it, and maybe some of the other cases in this indictment." The State will make the case file and all the evidence gathered available to Olmert's legal team by next week. Once the prime minister's attorneys study the material, they stand to decide on whether or not they want to hold a hearing or not. Meanwhile, Olmert's communications director, Amir Dan, said the premier had no intention of suspending himself: "Olmert has already stepped down as prime minister. Under these circumstances it is clear that there is no significance, legal or otherwise, to him suspending himself. The prime minister intends on carrying on with the duties of his office until the new government is formed," he said. Roni Sofer contributed to this report

State says has solid case against Olmert

(Video) Senior sources in State Prosecutor's Office insist they have sufficient evidence to indict, convict PM on Rishon Tours double-billing case. Gravest offence on docket carries seven year prison term