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American fundraiser Morris Talansky, key witness in PM probe case (Daniel Bar On) Last update - 23:54 21/05/2008 Ex-Olmert aide recorded money transfers between PM, Messer By Ofra Edelman, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ehud Olmert, Morris Talansky  Police have obtained documentation of the alleged transfer of money between Ehud Olmert and his associate Uri Messer, funds which the prime minister is suspected of having illicitly received from American fundraiser Morris (Moshe) Talansky. The lifting of a gag-order Wednesday evening allowed the publication of this information, according to which Olmert allegedly passed the money on to Messer through his former office chief Shula Zaken, who documented the exchanges. Zaken's documentation was limited to a relatively short period of a number of months. Advertisement The documents, obtained from the offices of the Industry and Trade Ministry, are key evidence that actually prompted the probe against the prime minister. Despite this, the investigation still hinges upon Talansky's detailed testimony, given after he arrived in Israel for Passover. The lifting of the gag-order also allowed the publication of the fact that Talansky financed private trips abroad for Olmert. According to law-enforcement sources, police hold information revealing the private use by the prime minister of part of the funds transferred by Talansky over the years. In Talansky's testimony to police, it emerged that he knew the money use not only used to cover political campaign expenditure by Olmert, but was also put to personal use. The team of police investigators still has not succeeded in determining how much money was given to the prime minister by Talansky, but according to estimates it is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The team of Israeli investigators will leave for New York in the coming weeks, where they will examine Talansky's bank accounts in an effort to discover whether dates he said he withdrew money at Olmert's request correspond with the dates detailing the relevant movements in his bank accounts. The investigation has so far ascertained that the transfer of funds between the pair was stopped only shortly before Olmert began serving as prime minister, and that during his current tenure, Olmert has not taken money from Talansky, nor has he used funds which were earlier passed on by the American fundraiser. T.A. Court extends order barring Talansky from leaving Israel until May 26 Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court on Wednesday evening extended the court order barring him from leaving Israel until 23:00 on May 26, after it expired Wednesday. The court ruling was made at the request of the State Prosecutor's Office, and with Talansky's attorneys' agreement. Talansky had objected to a request for court order to be extended, and offered his $1.3 million Jerusalem apartment as a guarantee he will return to the country to testify in a corruption probe against Olmert. The State Prosecutor's office issued the request on barring travel for Talansky, from whom Olmert is suspected of illicitly accepting large funds. If the Jerusalem District Court grants a request submitted by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his former bureau chief Shula Zaken to delay his deposition, Talansky was to ask permission to leave the country and come back in June. Olmert and Zaken on Wednesday asked to delay Talansky's planned deposition in order to give the defense attorneys time to go through the investigative material. The court is scheduled to decide on the matter on Friday. On Tuesday, the High Court of Justice rejected their petition against the deposition, ruling that the district court's decision to hear prior testimony from Talansky was sound. The court order barring Talansky from leaving the country expired Wednesday, but the State Prosecutor's Office petitioned the Jerusalem District Court asking that it be extended until the American businessman testifies in court. Talansky was questioned by the Fraud Squad on Tuesday for several hours, and he is expected to be questioned again, probably later on Wednesday. Police will question Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at 10 A.M. Friday in his residence in Jerusalem in connection with their investigation into suspicions that he took bribes during his tenure as Jerusalem mayor and minister of industry and trade. Friday's planned interrogation was scheduled on Tuesday, following talks between Olmert's attorneys and detectives from the Fraud Squad. Police investigators began trying to arrange the interrogation last Thursday, but Olmert's defense team finally agreed only on Tuesday. This will be Olmert's second interrogation since the affair broke two weeks ago. Related articles: Police to question Olmert in Talansky bribe case Friday Talansky's funds paid debts from PM's mayoral campaigns Prosecutor: Talansky personally handed Olmert envelopes of cash Supreme Court denies Olmert bid to block testimony against him Bookmark to del.icio.us   Say what you want French court: Claim that Al-Dura tape doctored isn`t libelous. Peace in our time Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national duty'.   1.   Olmert`s as dirty as they come - but do we need him anyway? 15:24  |  Michelle 21/05/08   2.   Olmert Is Also As Incompetent As They Come: Lebanon 2 Proved It 17:15  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 21/05/08   3.   Prosecution should lay charges or shut up! 18:37  |  eliyahu 21/05/08   4.   Prosecution should lay charges or shut up! 18:38  |  eliyahu 21/05/08   5.   Translation 21:47  |  Colin Wright 21/05/08   6.   Still confused 22:09  |  David 21/05/08   7.   SEMONSTRATIONS NOW! OLMERT MUST GET OUT!! 22:54  |  Natasha 21/05/08   8.   Follow the money to his children`s accounts 22:59  |  PJ 21/05/08   9.   When did Talansky decide to buy his apartment. 23:51  |  EGW 21/05/08   10.   THE GANG OF FOUR 01:16  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 22/05/08   11.   Did Olmert receive Slush Funds when in London 2001 01:19  |  Kol Haam 22/05/08   12.   Lock him up already! 01:50  |  A Life 22/05/08

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