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Prime Minister's Office bureau chief Shula Zaken. (Alon Ron) Last update - 14:52 04/05/2008 PM's bureau chief suspended amid allegations of bribery By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ehud Olmert, corruption  Civil Service Commissioner Shmuel Hollander has suspended Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's bureau chief Shula Zaken for six months due to suspicions against her in the alleged bribery affair in the Tax Authority. Hollander sent Zaken a letter at the end of the week in which he said the decision had been made by State Prosecutor Eran Shendar. "The alleged evidence collected against you so far in the police investigation justifies suspending you," the letter said. The Civil Service Commission also decided to suspend six other senior officials in the Tax Authority, and a lesser official in the Prime Minister's Office. As opposed to Zaken, who was suspended for a delimited period, no time limit was stated with regard to the other suspects. Shendar also ordered the suspension of the other officials, since the Civil Service Commission does not have access to the police evidence in the case. Advertisement The head of the Tax Authority, Jacky Matza, is not being suspended, although the court has ordered him not to carry out his duties. Matza's suspension would make it impossible to appoint a new permanent head of the Tax Authority, and he is therefore expected to resign or to be dismissed by the cabinet so a new head can be appointed. Two weeks ago, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and Hollander recommended to Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson that he establish a committee to search for a new Tax Authority chief and not to have the minister make the choice, as was previously the case. Shendar said Saturday night in an interview on Channel 2's "Meet the Press" that the investigation would be completed within two months, and that the case would be given to the economic department of the State Prosecutor's Office, which will make a decision on indictments. Shendar also said the investigation of Olmert's alleged role in the sale of the controlling interest in Bank Leumi was ongoing and that it was too soon to say anything. With regard to other affairs involving Olmert, he conceded that the State Prosecutor's Office was in no hurry to open investigations due to the "wider implications of an investigation against the prime minister," and an investigation would be opened only if there was "no choice." Jonathan Lis adds: The police said none of the suspects in the Tax Authority case, including Shula Zaken, has been able to refute the suspicions against them so far. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Security first Foreign Minister Livni tells the PA to ensure terrorists don't exploit Israel's gestures. Terrorist pride Lebanon-based guerillas Hezbollah say they're proud to appear on the U.S. terrorist list.   1.   that should happen to all suspected of corruption 20:57  |  Bruno 10/02/07   2.   or other misdemeanors - like Katsav 20:57  |  Bruno 10/02/07   3.   Our system of government is rotten 21:26  |  Yonatan 10/02/07   4.   Another One 23:21  |  Abe 10/02/07   5.   with or without pay? anyone know? 00:09  |  Shmuel 11/02/07   6.   well what is another one ........ 03:32  |  Sam (UK) 11/02/07   7.   israeli corrution 05:17  |  NATHAN FRIEDMAN 11/02/07   8.   #7 Nathan Friedman 09:11  |  S 11/02/07   9.   #6 San UK 18:19  |  Brian Boru 11/02/07   10.   There we go again! 18:47  |  Universal Truth 11/02/07   11.   Blame Hizbullah 18:50  |  Ali Kazimi 11/02/07

Read & React Rice: Israel-PA peace deal still attainable by year's end Responses: 73 ANALYSIS: Is this where it all ends for Ehud Olmert? Responses: 38 Olmert: I'll keep doing my job despite 'vicious rumors' Responses: 46 Gideon Levy: Why not have a siren for the Naqba on Israel's Independence Day? Responses: 41 Report: Hezbollah can intercept all calls in Lebanon thanks to Iranian network Responses: 7 Rosner's Domain Carter is helping Hamas achieve their strategic goal Asali: on nationalist fantasies, religious zealotry, of Israelis/Palestinians Should Israel remain Jewish? (WTR) Super headache for superdelegates Talking about war with Iran is not necessarily bad More Headlines 14:35 Rice: Peace deal still attainable by year's end 13:52 Olmert: I'll keep doing my job despite malicious rumors 08:26 ANALYSIS: Is this where it all ends for Ehud Olmert? 11:57 Palestinian medics: IDF troops kill Palestinian in Gaza raid 13:29 Report: Hezbollah can intercept calls in Lebanon thanks to Iran 12:56 Chief Rabbi to revoke ruling which invalidates thousands of conversions 12:46 Settlers dismantle illegal outpost in southern Hebron Hills 14:13 Rice: U.S. won`t stand in way of Israel-Syria peace efforts 13:55 Ignored by state, girlfriends of fallen Israeli soldiers hold own memorial 13:18 Hamas use police cars to offer taxi service to Gazans 14:49 Bank of Israel Director General to resign from his post 08:41 Laborites: Suspicions against Olmert could spell PM's exit Previous Editions Select Day 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr

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