Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 15, 2008 Tamuz 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:10 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Police: Olmert's testimony on Friday strengthened double-billing case By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: double-billing, Israel  Law enforcement officials said Sunday they believed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had strengthened suspicions against him Friday when he was questioned by police in the double-billing scandal. "It could be said that Olmert was unable to extricate himself from the cloud of suspicion," an official said on Sunday of the allegations that the prime minister had asked several charities and state institutions to pay for the same trips abroad and used the money to fund family vacations. Since Olmert gave his version of events, various reports on the investigation have appeared in the media. Some reports said Olmert took advantage of the opportunity once again to accuse investigators of leaking information. Advertisement Olmert also reportedly read aloud documents he was shown and wrote down the questions he was asked, conduct that was described as bogging down the meeting. However, other sources close to the investigation said they did not have the impression this time that Olmert was trying to impede the investigation or insult his interrogators. "The investigation was completely proper from our perspective," a law enforcement official said. Low profile The police were trying on Sunday to lower their profile in the affair and the investigation slowed down so as to proceed relatively quietly in the coming weeks. It is believed that investigators now have most of the material and a police recommendation on an indictment is expected in a few weeks. Police are planning their next steps, including the summoning of other witnesses in the case. Olmert's children are to be called by investigators in an attempt to verify the list of flights their father is suspected of having given them with money from the double-billing. "It is doubtful all the children will be questioned this week," a law enforcement official told Haaretz. The official said a few dozen flights, "many more than 12" had been identified as allegedly being funded by double- and triple-billing. Meanwhile, Olmert's four children, Michal, Dana, Shaul and Ariel Olmert responded publicly to the graft allegations against him for the first time Sunday, in a written statement: "Our father explicitly explained that the plane tickets were a present from him, paid from his pocket." The prime minister on Saturday denounced the fresh accusations against him as distorted and despicable. "The reports and leaks that emerged shortly after the investigation began constitute a grave breach of acceptable norms and deviate from everything that is acceptable and expected in a democratic regime," the prime minister said moments before boarding the plane that would take him to Paris for the Mediterranean Union summit. Bookmark to del.icio.us   History undersea Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim. Elections, Hebrew style U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo the Jewish community.   1.   Is this Olmert`s Punishment ,,,, 10:24  |  Dolly 14/07/08   2.   Jonathan Lis - Thank you, thank you, thank you 11:07  |  Natasha 14/07/08   3.   Olmert could still prove to be a strong leader 11:37  |  Leon Rosgarten 14/07/08   4.   Olmert,, his grown-up family and Aliza `The Woman in Black` 11:50  |  justiceforall 14/07/08   5.   Olmert has NEVER been a strong leader .... 13:07  |  Dolly 14/07/08   6.   To Leon Rosgarten # 3 - No need for Handshakes 13:14  |  The Threadmill. 14/07/08   7.   Olmert doesnt need to prove anything! 13:17  |  charlie 14/07/08   8.   Olmert doesnt need to prove anything! 13:17  |  charlie 14/07/08   9.   #3: Yes, He Could Be a Leader of Prison Riot 13:18  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 14/07/08   10.   "A grave breach of acceptable norms....` 14:34  |  Dagma 14/07/08   11.   People in glass houses... 15:06  |  Ros 14/07/08   12.   Move over Olmert 15:07  |  Colin 14/07/08   13.   Israel has lost it`s moral soul, and it`s backbone. Shameful. 15:49  |  Gary A., MD 14/07/08   14.   leaks 16:49  |  Andrew 14/07/08   15.   They pitied Olmert - those World Leaders.. 16:52  |  justiceforall 14/07/08   16.   They pitied Olmert - those World Leaders.. 16:52  |  justiceforall 14/07/08   17.   ITS TIME TO INDICT OLMERT, ITS TIME FOR HIM TO RESIGN 17:42  |  Living In Rishon 14/07/08   18.   Olmert aand his political hacks must be thrown out of office 18:52  |  Shepherd 14/07/08

Read & React Obama: I used 'poor phrasing' in undivided Jerusalem remark Responses: 237 Syria sources to Haaretz: We'll grant no goodwill gestures to weak Olmert Responses: 51 Syria's Assad: Israel will pay a direct price for attacking Iran Responses: 75 Was building city of Modi'in a mistake? Responses: 44 More Headlines 22:49 Olmert: Hezbollah report on fate of Ron Arad is 'absolutely unsatisfactory' 01:39 Ahmadinejad: direct talks with U.S. possible in 'near future' 17:42 Barak: UN resolution on Lebanon war is a failure 00:57 Controversial New Yorker cover depicts Obama as Muslim, wife as armed terrorist 22:29 VIDEO: How Olmert and Assad dodged an unwanted Paris handshake 19:44 Noam Shalit: Don't free Palestinians while my son still held in Gaza 01:23 Israeli teams tell Diaspora Jews: Make aliyah, for soccer's sake! 23:19 Despite no confidence vote, Olmert won't dismiss Labor ministers 20:03 Hamas spokesman says Tony Blair to visit Gaza this week 14:08 Iran decries contacts between Syria and 'illegitimate' Israel 23:09 Asbestos-linked cancer 10 times more prevalent in Nahariya 17:43 New film tells tale of Palestinian killed in error by IDF who went on to save Israeli lives 21:19 American women pack up their lives, move to Israel for love Previous Editions Select Day 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Right In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved