Police question PM's associate Messer in corruption probe - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Thu., December 20, 2007 Tevet 11, 5768

Israel Time: 09:49 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Rosner's Domain

Diplomacy

Defense

Jewish World

Opinion

National

Print Edition

Advertising

Books

Arts & Leisure

Business

Real Estate

Easy Start

Travel

Week's End

Anglo File

Hanukkah



		Uri Messer, a close associate of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (Ido Zimmerman)

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 23:44 19/12/2007

Police question PM's associate Messer in corruption probe

By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Uri Messer, Ehud Olmert

Police have recently questioned under caution a close associate of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, several times, in a probe into the suspected granting of improper political favors by Olmert.

Police sources confirmed on Wednesday for the first time that Olmert's associate Uri Messer is a suspect in the affair, which relates to the period between 2003 and 2005 when the prime minister served as Industry, Trade and Labor Minister. However, the police refused to reveal what violations Messer was suspected of.

Messer, an attorney and former business partner of Olmert's, was due on Wednesday to present himself for questioning at the National Fraud Investigation Unit's offices, but asked to postpone the session due to ill health.

	Advertisement

The affair is over alleged fraud, breach of trust and cronyism by Olmert while he headed an investment center operated by the Industry and Trade Ministry during the administration of former prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Within the framework of the investigation, the prime minister is suspected of helping grant favors to a factory represented by Messer.

Olmert's bureau said in response to the allegations that "the prime minister's acquaintance of the entrepreneur's attorney does not prevent him from fulfilling his professional obligations as a minister."

Related articles:

After watchdog issues report on Olmert, prosecutors say criminal probe 'inevitable'

State Prosecutor backs State Comptroller in spat with Olmert

Justice Min.: Olmert need not suspend himself over probes

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Religious discrimination
	Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch rejects Israel's Jewish identity in a pre-Christmas speech.


	Patriot protection
	The IDF successfully tested an improved defense missile in anticipation of attacks.

Today Online


	Experts: Far right will up violence in future settlement evacuation
	Responses: 26


	Arab group seeks supranational regime in 'historic Palestine'
	Responses: 48


	Harel: Palestinians' national pride precedes personal well-being
	Send response


	Issacharoff and Harel: A Gaza invasion is the last thing Israel wants
	Responses: 118


	Falafel recipe painted on West Bank fence as part of protest
	Responses: 67

Rosner's Domain

Huckabee can 'live with a contained Iran' (What to Read)

Rabin's long memory and the U.S. NIE report on Iran

Guest: Leader of the Zionist Organization of America on post-Annapolis Mideast

Without the Reform movement in Israel, there's no Reform movement

More Headlines
09:13 Experts: Far right will up violence in future pullouts


09:29 Adalah center says it may seek 'regime in all historic Palestine'


01:14 Assad says Syria turned down nuclear weapons offer in 2001


05:15 Aides: Olmert, Livni were not told about E. J'lem housing plan


09:29 U.S. Jewish group slams gov't ruling on campus anti-Semitism


04:05 Gaza census bureau at center of Hamas-PA dispute over survey


06:03 Pre-State polio victims being denied NII compensation


00:59 Knesset okays tax incentives for 'green' construction


23:40 Saudi king invites Iranian President Ahmadinejad to Mecca for hajj


08:14 Striking university lecturers, treasury deadlocked over wage dispute