Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 15, 2008 Tamuz 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:48 (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

Last update - 13:36 15/07/2008 Ex-Olmert aide finally talks to police in real estate probe By Ronit Singer-Heruti and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Olmertous, Israel  After months of exercising her right to remain silent, Shula Zaken, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's former office manager, finally agreed to talk to the police Monday about one of the many investigations being conducted against Olmert. However, it is not clear whether her testimony served to reinforce Olmert's defense or to bolster the case against him. Zaken was interrogated by the police fraud squad for five hours regarding Olmert's purchase of a house on Jerusalem's Cremieux Street. She is a witness rather than a suspect in that case. Advertisement Police suspect that the contractor who sold the house gave Olmert discounts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on the purchase price. In exchange, Olmert is suspected of using his ties with the Jerusalem municipality to secure for the contractor increased building rights in another project on that street. Olmert was industry and trade minister at the time, but had previously served two terms as mayor of Jerusalem. Police were seeking to discover what Zaken knew about the purchase, on the theory that as Olmert's office manager, she was well-placed to have known something. The Cremieux case began two years ago with an investigation initiated by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who then turned his findings over to the Attorney General's Office. Zaken was interrogated on Friday in the "Olmertours" case, in which Olmert is suspected of billing several nonprofit agencies for the same plane ticket and using the extra money to finance personal trips. Zaken is suspected of having known about Olmert's double-billing at the time. Police also questioned Keren Hayesod Chairman Avi Pazner yesterday about the Olmertours case. Keren Hayesod is one of the organizations that police think might have been victimized by the alleged scam. Over the next few days, police plan to question other Keren Hayesod employees, along with employees of several other organizations that police suspect were victims of the double-billing. Meanwhile, Aleh, The Society of Blind and Dyslexic Students in Israel, denied Monday that it was one of the victims of Olmert's double-billing. The denial was issued in response to media reports that quoted law enforcement officials as saying that Aleh was one of the affected agencies. 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.   Olmert investigations 06:21  |  Otto Rand 15/07/08   2.   It is still not known re The New Jerusalem Foundation 08:24  |  Natasha 15/07/08   3.   probe 13:04  |  jeff 15/07/08   4.   Regarding Aleh`s denial as being one of the victims 13:26  |  Yoni 15/07/08   5.   To Otto Rand # 1 - This is NOT a Witch-hunt 14:54  |  Dolly 15/07/08   6.   At what point do we say its time to indict Olmert 18:00  |  Kipperraes 15/07/08

Read & React VIDEO: Olmert, Assad dodge unwanted handshake in Paris Responses: 52 Obama camp slams New Yorker cover of him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist Responses: 111 Ahmadinejad: Direct U.S. talks possible in 'near future' Responses: 88 Editorial: Israel-Syria talks must go on, with or without Olmert Responses: 23 Report: One of soldiers held by Hezbollah died during abduction Responses: 26 Rosner's Domain The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? U.S. pressures Israel: No bombing of Iran (WTR) Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain More Headlines 15:53 Cabinet ratifies Hezbollah prisoner swap deal, 22-3 17:11 Hezbollah: Israel's approval of swap is official admission of defeat 19:24 Report: One of IDF soldiers to be swapped was killed in kidnapping 17:07 Bradley Burston/ The pleasure that Hezbollah takes in torture 19:18 Anti-terror unit warns: Israelis in Sinai face abduction threat 13:09 Shin Bet warning of attack causes Blair to nix Gaza visit 09:07 Obama campaign slams New Yorker cover showing him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist 09:12 Key witness in Olmert graft probe silent under questioning 18:09 VIDEO: Lawyers release first-ever footage of Guantanamo interrogation 16:45 Haifa court convicts man of raping, imprisoning prostitute 09:33 Tremors felt across Israel after 6.8-scale quake hits Greek isle 13:49 Palestinians: IDF arrests three Hamas officials in Nablus raid 14:59 Ex-IDF generals: Is bellicose Israeli prattle on Iran strike necessary? 19:28 Trade Ministry weighs production of electric car in Israel 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