Olmert interrogation begins

Former Prime Minister to the interrogation room: Almost seven weeks since the breaking of the Holyland corruption affair, which the court called "one of the worst in the State's history", the most senior suspect in the case, Ehud Olmert, arrived at the National Fraud Unit's offices in Lod for questioning on Tuesday.

Olmert, who was summoned for questioning under warning on Monday, arrived at the compound in his vehicle with his private driver and Shin Bet bodyguards, without saying a word.

The detectives are expected to present to Olmert questions related to suspicions that he took bribes through the mediation of his former bureau chief Shula Zaken and his longtime confidante Attorney Uri Messer.

Police also believe some of the money was transferred to Olmert's brother Yossi, who currently resides abroad, and have therefore requested the prosecution's international department to probe his involvement.

Investigators will also present Olmert with documents and testimony provided by the state witness, which detail how Olmert allegedly received the bribe money. The former PM will be asked to explain the content of a meeting he held with the state witness at his office. Eyewitnesses verified to police that such a meeting had in fact taken place.

Zaken, who has also been questioned on the matter, confirmed that such meetings were held, but claimed she does not know what the two discussed.

Sources close to Olmert demanded that the state witness' identity be revealed, as the former PM said he had tried to extort him in the past.

Olmert's media advisor Amir Dan on Monday said that the investigation was starting "after six weeks of groundless and baseless leaks. He added that, "Olmert has made it clear more than once that he has never been offered a bribe and has never taken a bribe, not directly and not indirectly. It's very sad that the police had to leak the summons and turn the entire matter into a show."