Last update - 00:00 29/04/2007
Comptroller may give AG results of probe into PM's purchases
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
State Comptoller Micha Lindenstrauss is considering submitting the results of his probe into Ehud Olmert's purchase of an apartment on Cremieux Street in Jerusalem to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, in light of the prime minister's failure to respond to the charges raised in the comptroller's report.
In early February Olmert was given one month to respond to the allegations in the draft of the comptroller's report, which claimed he received a substantial discount on the purchase price as well as other favors.
Olmert's attorneys argue that Lindenstrauss' announcement that he may pass the materials on to Mazuz rather than publishing his report on the Cremieux probe proves that the comptroller has no evidence that Olmert broke the law.
Meanwhile, Mazuz is considering initiating a criminal investigation of Olmert with regard to appointments at the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (SMEA), and his involvement with the ministry's Investment Center. Both affairs concern Olmert's tenure as minister of industry, trade and labor.
The state comptroller's report issued last week calls for investigating allegations that Olmert gave preference in a government tender to a factory which is represented by his long-time partner, attorney Uri Messer. Fraud and breach of trust are alleged in this affair.
Mazuz is expected to make a decision on the issue in the very near future.