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Morris Talansky
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

State wants Talansky to testify in open court

Prosecution says will not agree to hear testimony of key witness in fraud case against Prime Minister Olmert behind closed doors, but will consider partial gag order so as to facilitate deposition

The Jerusalem District Prosecution informed Morris Talansky's attorneys Sunday that it would not support the latter's motion to testify in a closed court.

 

Talansky is the key witness in an ongoing police investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, for alleged multiple counts of fraud. Talansky was deposed by police and testified before the Jerusalem District Court in July, but has since gone back to the United States. He is expected to return to Israel within the next few weeks in order to resume his testimony.

 

Despite the prosecution's refusal to bar the public and the press from the courtroom during Talansky's future testimony, the State agreed that "there may be room to consider placing some of the hearing's content under a gag order, or holding parts of it in closed doors, so as to ensure a (stress) free testimony."

 

Talansky's attorneys, Jacques Chen and Brad Simon are currently trying to negotiate immunity for Talansky with Israeli authorities.

 

Talansky has yet to inform the State Prosecutor's Office whether or not he intends to return to Israel for the duration of his testimony. Should he choose not to do so, the State will be able to act on the guarantees he posted prior to leaving Israel and would seize several bank accounts and an apartment left as collateral.

 

The negotiations between the State Prosecutor's Office and Talansky's legal team began in late January, after the US judicial authorities decided to grant him partial immunity. The US federal authorities are currently investigating Talansky for alleged money laundering and filing false tax reports.

 

"Under the circumstances, we will be unable to comply with your motion to have the rest of Mr. Talansky's testimony heard behind closed doors and under a gag order," said the prosecution in its response to Talansky's attorneys' motion.

 

"Nevertheless, we sympathize with Mr. Talansky's concerns that reports of his testimony may be 'manipulated and taken out of context,' as you have phrased it, and therefore, in order to enable him to testify freely, we are willing to consider holding parts of the hearing behind closed doors and under a gag order."

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.15.09, 15:37
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