Olmert questioned for 12th time in corruption investigation
Fraud unit investigators question PM for two hours at his Jerusalem residence on Investment Center affair
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was questioned at his official Jerusalem residence on Friday for the 12th time in recent months by the police fraud investigation unit.
The prime minister was questioned by investigators for about two hours on the Investment Center and political appointments affair. It is suspected that during his tenure as industry, trade and labor minister Olmert granted favors to a factory represented by his associate, attorney Uri Messer, through the ministry’s Investment Center.
Last week State Prosecutor Moshe Lador decided to close the Bank Leumi case against Olmert.
The Leumi case centered on suspicions that Olmert, while being the locum tenens for the finance minister in Ariel Sharon's government, used his influence to make sure an Australian businessman, Frank Louie, won the bank's privatization tender.
After a lengthy investigation, the police recommended the case be closed.
In late November Attorney General Menachem Mazuz advised Olmert that he plans to recommend he be indicted in connection with the Rishon Tours double billing affair, pending a hearing.
The Rishon Tours' affair entails allegations that Olmert was double and triple-billing trips abroad sponsored by Jewish institutions, and either pocketed the difference or financed trips for relatives. The AG's decision followed a lengthy and highly publicized police investigation.
