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Last update - 02:46 22/08/2008
Prosecution to seek immunity for Talansky in U.S.
By Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Morris Talansky, Ehud Olmert 

The State Prosecutor's office announced on Thursday that it would seek immunity in the U.S. for Jewish American businessman Morris Talansky, who has been repeatedly questioned by Israel police investigators in connection to a graft probe currently underway against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The prosecution has previously promised that Talansky's testimony will not be used against him in Israel, and added that it will contact American authorities in the coming days to request that they not press charges against him.

Talansky's testimony thus far will be passed along to U.S. authorities.
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Talansky has already given his initial testimony and was cross-examined for several days about his claim that he gave Olmert some $150,000 over a period of several years.

Last Thursday, however, he announced he would not return for the remainder of his cross-examination, which had been postponed at the request of Olmert's lawyers, because his testimony here could complicate his defense in a grand jury investigation now underway against him in the United States.

Talansky would like Israel's Justice Ministry to reach an immunity deal with its American counterpart under which his testimony here could not be used against him in America. His associates believe that in light of the importance of the case to Israel, the ministry should be able to work something out with Washington.

If some such deal is not reached, Talansky's lawyers say there is no chance that he will return for further testimony. "The Israeli case is the reason for the investigation in the U.S.," said one of his American lawyers, Bradley Simon. "By having him testify in Israel without protecting him, they've put him at risk here."

Should the grand jury find enough evidence to warrant an indictment, the charges Talansky may face in the U.S. include bribing a foreign leader, tax evasion and money laundering.

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