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Last update - 12:42 19/05/2008 New evidence against Olmert might lead to even more charges By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Staff Tags: Ehud Olmert, Israel  New evidence obtained in the latest probe of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has revealed several new offenses with which the premier could potentially be charged, on top of the bribery suspicions that sparked the investigation, law enforcement officials told Haaretz Sunday. According to the officials, there is relatively substantial evidence of fraud, breach of trust and conspiracy to commit a crime. In addition, investigators are examining whether the prime minister violated campaign finance and money-laundering laws, but the chances of finding enough evidence to indict him on these charges are smaller. "At the moment, we're focusing less on defining the crimes with which Olmert will be charged - if he is charged - and more on the task of gathering evidence against him," said one. "Only later will the investigators clearly determine which crimes the evidence translates into, and whether enough evidence has been gathered to charge Olmert with bribery and other offenses." Advertisement Law enforcement officials involved in the investigation said that over the last few days, several witnesses have been questioned, including civil servants and people involved in banking transactions and other monetary transfers connected with the case - primarily transfers between American businessman Morris (Moshe) Talansky and Olmert, and between attorney Uri Messer and both Olmert and Shula Zaken. Messer was in charge of handling the money that Talansky, who is the key witness in the case, gave to Olmert, and both he and Zaken, who is Olmert's former office manager, may be suspects in the case. The officials said that all this testimony was taken in an effort to find circumstantial evidence that would support the testimony provided by Talansky, and it appears that it does. The American businessman had testified "about cash that he transferred to Olmert over the course of years," said one. The officials added that the probe is likely to continue for another several months, though probably less than half a year. "Now, we need to enable the investigative team to work in peace," said one. Attorney General Menachem Mazuz also said Sunday that he doubted a decision on the probe would be made in the near future. "I am not certain that we will make a legal decision in the coming weeks," Mazuz told Channel 2's Ilana Dayan in an interview broadcast yesterday. "This is an unrealistic attitude." Earlier yesterday, Talansky informed the High Court of Justice that he is prepared to stay in Israel only until late Monday, May 26, thus limiting the time in which he can give prior testimony to the court. Talansky, a former fundraiser for Olmert, is slated to give a deposition to the Jerusalem District Court on May 25, if the High Court rejects a petition by Olmert and Zaken against the planned testimony. His departure on May 26 would therefore only allow two days for the testimony, including cross-examination by Olmert's attorneys. In his announcement, Talansky's attorneys stressed that he will not agree to extend his stay any further. "A further extension of this sort would constitute a severe, unjustified and disproportionate blow that goes beyond what can be demanded of a third party and [infringes on] his rights," the attorneys wrote. But Talansky also said he plans to return to Israel a few days before the marriage of his grandson, set for June 11, and again for the bar mitzvah of another grandson on July 11. That undercuts the argument made by the State Prosecutor's Office in the brief it submitted to the High Court yesterday, in which it argued that Talansky's deposition was necessary because he could not be relied on to return to Israel to testify at Olmert's trial should the premier ultimately be indicted. In their submission, Talansky's attorneys also stressed that their client, though a U.S. citizen, has a strong connection to Israel. "Neither an investigation, a trial, publicity nor discomfort of any kind would motivate him to cut his ties with the state he considers his home and to which he is connected with every fiber of his being," the brief said. "It is precisely this deep spiritual and emotional connection between him and the state that will cause him to want to return to Israel and answer every question he is asked, within the framework of an investigation or trial." The High Court is due to hear Olmert's petition Monday. In his interview with Dayan, meanwhile, Mazuz also commented on the broader struggle against governmental corruption. The public sector, he said, is currently undergoing a painful process of cleansing, "which in my view, will certainly bring about a cleaner reality." "There is no reality that is completely clean," Mazuz warned. However, he said, he already sees a change in the areas on which the legal establishment has focused its efforts. "I see that in these fields, there has clearly been quite a significant change," he said. "I hope that there will also be an impact on those areas that feed the phenomenon of governmental corruption, and a [consequent] drop in the curve." Related articles: For a penny, for a shekel A ray of clarity in the probe fog What was in the envelopes Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fear of extinction The state of over 20 species of birds in Israel has worsened considerably. Taking advantage Jerusalem police probe possible gang rape of disabled woman.   1.   AG Mazuz 06:15  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 19/05/08   2.   Face facts folks 06:41  |  Mark Lincoln 19/05/08   3.   Why Olmert is in no danger 06:46  |  Mark Lincoln 19/05/08   4.   Ag Mazuz needs to be investigated for not indicting Olmert 06:56  |  Shepherd 19/05/08   5.   Why Wait for the Next Election? 07:34  |  Dolly 19/05/08   6.   Demonstrations...demonstrations... and MORE DEMONSRATIONS 08:04  |  Orpheus 19/05/08   7.   Well... 08:17  |  Esther 19/05/08   8.   #1- he should be indicted only when all the evidence is ready! 08:40  |  redmike 19/05/08   9.   PM 08:43  |  Yoel 19/05/08   10.   Grey areas 08:59  |  Motic 19/05/08   11.   Reply to # 4 09:02  |  Joe 19/05/08   12.   FACT........................... 09:04  |  OLMERT=CRIMINAL 19/05/08   13.   Government is a reflection of Israeli society 10:00  |  Dror 19/05/08   14.   The Witch Hunt and the Police. 12:53  |  Stephen. 19/05/08   15.   Olmert-Gate: "Follow the Money" 13:28  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 19/05/08   16.   Same old so-called evidence...no significant charges 18:37  |  Tali 19/05/08   17.   The coalition must go also. 19:10  |  Chaim 19/05/08   18.   #13 - Dror - how right you are! 23:20  |  Kate 19/05/08   19.   Olmert Resign! Olmert is a corrupt defeatist ! 04:43  |  HENRY MANN 20/05/08

Read & React Arens: Truce with terrorists - ludicrous, self-destructive Send response Amos Harel: Iran's fingerprints all over Gaza strife Responses: 14 McCain blasts Obama for Iran threat comments Responses: 5 Jerusalem, Petach Tikva ban 'Sex in the City' film adverts Responses: 14 More Headlines 10:06 Gaza boy, 13, said killed in IAF strike; IDF: Aircraft fired at militants 06:51 Gaza cease-fire could take effect later this week 10:08 Police to question Olmert Fri. for second time in Talansky probe 07:58 McCain blasts Obama for saying Iran poses lesser threat than Soviets 09:11 Handcuffed burglar killed after abducting Ashdod policewoman 02:24 PA sources: Status of kidnapped soldiers delaying prisoner swap 09:49 Jerusalem, Petach Tikva ban 'Sex in the City' film adverts 07:14 ANALYSIS: In Gaza conflict, Iran's fingerprints are everywhere 07:30 New bill would sentence migrants and refugees to five years in jail 07:23 Female corporal prevents suicide attack at checkpoint 07:32 FM Livni to Pelosi: No peace agreement with PA likely in 2008 01:50 Israeli real estate cutthroats unite in New York-based business 00:52 What's green and makes electricity? An artificial leaf Previous Editions Select Day 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may

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