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American businessman and key witness Morris (Moshe) Talansky. (Daniel Bar On) Law enforcement source: Olmert's indictment is just a matter of time By Jonathan Lis and Barak Ravid Tags: corruption, Morris Talansky  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was interrogated under warning on Friday for about an hour, after which time a law-enforcement source said that "as of now, an indictment against Olmert is only a matter of time." Olmert reportedly cooperated with investigators in answering questions about envelopes containing cash that he allegedly received over the years from businessman and fund-raiser Morris Talansky. Prime Minister Olmert reportedly told his investigators: "I am acting in a statesmanlike way and you are constantly leaking details from the investigation." According to a source close to Olmert: "Every day we wake up to new headlines about things that never happened." Advertisement The prime minister was not asked during the questioning to set aside a date for another session. "If asked, we will find the time," the Prime Minister's Bureau said. Olmert was asked Friday whether he used the money he had previously admitted to receiving from Talansky, and whether he acted to promote Talansky's affairs in exchange. Olmert was also challenged for the first time with the testimony of his confidante Uri Messer, whom Olmert put in charge of the hundreds of thousands of dollars he received from Talansky. Messer presented the police with incriminating evidence regarding the money, among other things claiming that Olmert had asked him to give back some of the money he had given Messer. Messer said he did not know what happened to that money. According to sources, Olmert incriminated himself in his first questioning sessions about two weeks ago, when he admitted taking the cash from Talansky over the years. "In the first questioning it was clear that Olmert was surprised. He did not know what material investigators had against him. We have no doubt that before the second questioning he had gotten advice from his battery of lawyers. It was clear he had had simulation sessions with them," a source in law enforcement said. However, the sources said Olmert did not provide satisfactory explanations for the cash or explain why he did not record or report the money he received as required by law. A law enforcement source said that "the investigative team received information that can lead to various junctures and there may be more suspicions against Olmert, but it has been decided to focus on the Talansky affair and on a relatively limited amount of time, because otherwise there will be no end, and it is unclear how much time will be required to put together an indictment - if one is put together." Sources in law enforcement said they believed that now that the evidence had been given to the representatives of the suspects, the "spin stage" had arrived. "It may be assumed that during the coming week various pieces of evidence will appear, selectively, in the media. We do not discount that portions of testimony will be released by interested parties in an attempt to present a false case and try to strike at the credibility of various witnesses and the evidence collected." "Now the real war starts in the media and for public opinion," a source said. Talansky is expected to testify today and tomorrow to the police and the State Prosecutor's Office in preparation for testimony he is expected to give. Related articles: ANALYSIS / Olmert's last police interview was tailor-made for him Peace of no choice Hamas: Olmert too weak to negotiate peace agreement with Syria News / Netanyahu: Olmert using Syria talks to divert attention from probe Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nazi hunted Nazi sheltered by Austria seen enjoying Euro 2008 games. Battle of the attitude An 'Israeli au pair' seems to be the ultimate oxymoron.   1.   everytime! 03:14  |  bashar 25/05/08   2.   good indict him 03:16  |  vik 25/05/08   3.   Disgraceful Leaks 03:28  |  guy 25/05/08   4.   Come On, Hurry It Up ! 03:41  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/05/08   5.   HE MUST GO! 04:14  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 25/05/08   6.   make him poor 05:13  |  david 25/05/08   7.   "Public opinion" 07:09  |  Esther 25/05/08   8.   The Time Has Come 07:53  |  CBR 25/05/08   9.   Olmert`s Indictment 08:03  |  Eva Aviad 25/05/08   10.   once he looses the PM job he starts the convicts job 08:06  |  zionist forever 25/05/08   11.   Indict Olmert NOW - before he does any more harm 08:09  |  * BEN JABO 25/05/08   12.   #1 Bashar - Would you mind telling us 08:12  |  * BEN JABO 25/05/08   13.   #3 Guy - Get real 08:14  |  * BEN JABO 25/05/08   14.   Just a matter of time 08:25  |  David 25/05/08   15.   HERE IS WHATS NEEDED TO CURB SYRIA FROM IRAN 08:32  |  MOE 25/05/08   16.   To bashar # 1 - A peace deal regarding PALESTINE? 09:09  |  Dagma 25/05/08   17.   Olmert should relinquish ALL ILLICIT FUNDS 09:33  |  Dolly 25/05/08   18.   guy #3 about "disgracefulness" 09:34  |  S 25/05/08   19.   A sieve? 09:50  |  Joseph 25/05/08   20.   A matter of time... 09:52  |  Ulf 25/05/08   21.   0l- merde to the forefront of corruption 10:10  |  victor hardman 25/05/08   22.   #18, S, exactly 10:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/05/08   23.   Reply to David (Post No. 6) 10:53  |  Johnny Weintraub 25/05/08   24.   Olmert`s indictment is just a metter of time. 10:57  |  Akram Zekaria 25/05/08   25.   Qick put him away 11:02  |  Leah 25/05/08   26.   Olmert`s indictment 11:11  |  Ralph 25/05/08   27.   For once I agree with Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:20  |  rm 25/05/08   28.   The thieve Olmert must be in jail !!!! 12:11  |  Vitaly 25/05/08   29.   Good night sweetheart ... it`s time to go ... dum dum dum dum 12:13  |  Yossi 25/05/08   30.   The Impudence and Arrogance of Olmert 12:36  |  Natasha 25/05/08   31.   To # 23 Johnny Weintraub - Olmert and Exile 13:05  |  Dolly 25/05/08   32.   Olmert MUST be indicted ,,,,,,, 13:16  |  The Onlooker 25/05/08   33.   Olmert`s indictment just a matter of time? 13:38  |  David Nigel Braham 25/05/08   34.   Please be true! 13:51  |  Linichka 25/05/08   35.   #3 GUY: leaks separate democracy from dictatorships 13:55  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/05/08   36.   Statemen like --scam like -its proper definition -- 13:56  |  Sal 25/05/08   37.   1 14:25  |  zionist forever 25/05/08   38.   Bye-Bye Kadima! Sneh Has Read the Writing on the Wall 14:46  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 25/05/08   39.   Thank G-d it was Talansky 15:55  |  fred 25/05/08   40.   OLMERT SHOULD GO TO DAMASCUS 15:58  |  indrajaya 25/05/08   41.   The Race Is On! 16:40  |  Jeff Northridge 25/05/08   42.   The one who must be indicted is Kadima. 16:43  |  Akram Zekaria 25/05/08   43.   To the Critics 16:58  |  guy 25/05/08   44.   KEEP THE GOLAN, GET RID OF OLMERT THE INEPT DEFEATIST 17:35  |  Gisser 25/05/08   45.   Sooner rather than later 18:28  |  Elianah 25/05/08   46.   I bet you he` ll escape what he desrves like Houdini ! 04:02  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/05/08   47.   Good: We must get rid of this Drek ASAP 16:10  |  Oiy Va Voiy 26/05/08   48.   STOP GETTING THE PEOPLE`S HOPES UP;IT`S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN;AT .. 04:30  |  glenna 17/06/08

Read & React Rice to Israel: 'Extremely important' to grant Gaza Fulbright students exit visas Responses: 169 Akiva Eldar: Our fixation on Iran leads world to see Israel as the cause of tension Responses: 168 Israeli hurt as Grad-type rockets fired from Gaza hit Ashkelon Responses: 98 Family of captive soldier: Deal with Hezbollah developing for return of troops Responses: 80 Battle of the attitude: Israeli girls vs. American Jews Responses: 93 More Headlines 03:52 Israeli sources: Prisoner swap with Hezbollah likely next week 01:09 UN special envoy criticizes Israel for talks with Syria 23:59 Heftziba CEO Yona, who left hundreds homeless, gets 7 years in jail under plea deal 02:06 U.S. official: W. Bank still same after Israel lifted roadblocks 21:13 Iran, fearing sanctions, said to have pulled $75b from EU banks 22:59 UN official who compared Israel to Nazis turns the spotlight on Palestinians 04:26 Receding Lake Kinneret shoreline reveals mysterious stone patterns 23:42 Bush, Musharraf, Ahmadinejad top least-trusted leaders list 02:36 Police ignored murdered lawyer's complaint that his life was in peril 22:57 Deputy Defense Min.: Residents of southern Israel should stop complaining about Qassams 04:11 B'Tselem cameras pay off for victims of settler attacks 00:37 Rice, in Beirut, voices U.S. backing for gov't that ups Hezbollah's power 21:21 Katsav lawyers slam 'public lynch' over sex crime charges 21:26 Nazi sheltered by Austria as too ill for trial, seen enjoying Euro 2008 21:42 Haredis won't protest Jerusalem Gay Pride parade to minimize its publicity Previous Editions Select Day 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun

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