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Attorney Uri Messer (Oriah Tadmor) Last update - 12:10 30/05/2008 Legal source: Messer testimony could help indict Olmert By Gidi Weitz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Uri Messer  The testimony given by attorney Uri Messer,Ehud Olmert's confidant, was very strong and could contribute to drafting an indictment against the prime minister over the money he took from American financier Morris Talansky, according to a legal source. However, another source said that Messer cooperated with the police only to a limited extent, and gave them as little information as he could. Messer refused to confront the prime minister over his role in the Talansky affair and responded postively when police asked if he was afraid of Olmert, Haaretz has learned. Advertisement Confrontations between people involved in an investigation is a technique police often use in the hope that something new will be revealed. The detectives wanted to arrange a confrontation between Messer and Olmert, after the latter denied knowing that Messer had kept cash from Talansky in his safe, Haaretz has learned. Messer had told the detectives that Olmert knew that he was keeping Talansky's money in his safe. "I spoke to him about it. He relied on me to keep the money," Messer reportedly told police. When Messer was first interrogated on the Talansky affair, he was asked whether he received money from Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zaken. He reserved the right to remain silent for a long time, a source familiar with the investigation told Haaretz. The source said Messer did everything he could to protect his close associates Olmert and Zaken. "He was tormented in the interrogations. This is not a witness who volunteered information freely," the source said. Later, however, Messer started cooperating reluctantly with the detectives, while saying it pained him to testify against his close friend and former partner. "I feel bad about turning informer on my friends," he kept saying. He also said, "I'm finished," and "I've destroyed my life." After Olmert's attempt to shift responsibility for the financial transactions onto Messer, in his address to the nation last week, Messer said, "I started it, not him." He denied having been "sold down the river" by Olmert. Messer told police that Zaken had given him money, which she said belonged to Olmert, occasionally in recent years. Messer kept Olmert's money in two separate safes, one in his office and the other at a Bank Leumi branch in Jerusalem, he said. "When Shula or Olmert wanted a certain amount, they would call me and ask. I'd go to the safe at the bank and take out the amount they wanted," Messer reportedly said. He estimated he took out thousands to tens of thousands of dollars at a time. The money passed between Messer and Zaken mainly behind Zaken's closed office door at the Industry and Trade Ministry, Haaretz has learned. Occasionally the two met in Zaken's home or Messer's law offices. Messer said he gave Olmert envelopes with money directly no more than five times, the source said. At Olmert's request, Messer sometimes had the money converted to shekels at change kiosks before giving it to the minister at his home or office. Messer told police several times that he had been responsible for launching the Talansky scandal by unveiling the truth about the funds the American gave Olmert, a legal source said. Messer styled himself as "the star of the case," the source added. In 2006, after journalists began asking questions, Messer called Zaken and said he wanted to return the money to her, the source said. He took a black bag, filled it with money - an estimated $150,000 - from the safes and brought it to Zaken. He told Olmert that he had returned the money to Zaken. Messer believes she still has the bag, the source said. Messer was questioned on suspicion of false registration in corporate documents. This followed Talansky's testimony that Messer had advised him to split a sum that was more than the maximum permitted contribution into several "legal" contributions, to be divided among Talansky's relatives. Messer said he saw nothing wrong with splitting contributions, but claimed he could not remember giving Talansky such advice, the source said. A source close to the investigation said there are several contradictions between Messer's and Talansky's testimonies. Zaken's computer logs show PM often received money from Talansky Zaken logged details of money transfers from American businessman Morris Talansky to Olmert when he was industry and trade minister, Haaretz has learned. Police found these entries in Zaken's computer in October 2004: "355,600, 15.2.04 - Ehud took $5,600; on 22.4 he took $5,000." Zaken detailed the sums she received from Talansky and attorney Uri Messer and what it was used for. The entries show that Olmert was a direct and regular recipient of the money that Talansky had given her. The money was kept in Messer's safes. "On 7.3 I gave Uri another $9,000," Zaken wrote. "Talansky 21.7 $50,000. Uri gave me $25,000 on 20.4.04." In February 2004 she wrote: "Uri ... on 27.5 there was $329,555 we added $60,000 on 24.8. Take 21,000 to Zeev." She also wrote: "100,000 Hirchson conference. Uri converted 23,450. Talansky brought 72,500. I gave 7,500 to Ehud and the rest to Messer." Hirchson refers to former finance minister Abraham Hirchson. Talansky said in court this week that over a 15-year period he transferred $150,000 to Olmert. Zaken's entries show that Messer sometimes converted the dollars into shekels at the request of Zaken or Olmert. Related articles: Let him wait outside Attorney General decides to expedite probe against Olmert Talansky: Olmert got $150,000 from me, introduced me to tycoons Law enforcement source: Olmert's indictment is just a matter of time ANALYSIS / Olmert's last police interview was tailor-made for him Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bad immigrant Hezbollah spy said he acted as a 'Lebanese patriot and a Muslim.' When (he's) in Rome Israel to launch PR campaign against Ahmadinejad visit to UN summit in Rome.   1.   Amazing How Crooks Turn Against Each Other 03:34  |  Dish It Out 30/05/08   2.   Nausea and Vomit 07:11  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/05/08   3.   This is true drama... 07:24  |  Esther 30/05/08   4.   Was Olmert also paid by ARABS? ...... 07:52  |  Dolly 30/05/08   5.   Olmert and Hirshson in symbiosis 08:38  |  Nora 30/05/08   6.   In Return For What? 08:43  |  isratinian 30/05/08   7.   May the corrupt fall quickly 08:59  |  Mike 30/05/08   8.   Question for all Israelis? 09:16  |  Dror 30/05/08   9.   Esther 09:38  |  Mike 30/05/08   10.   #4 DOLLY; by America NOT Arabs! 10:45  |  AliciaYasmeen 30/05/08   11.   Re Alicia #10 11:08  |  Esther 30/05/08   12.   prosecuting Israel`s PM because of tens of thousands of $$$ 11:52  |  Innocent bystander 30/05/08   13.   prosecuting Israel`s PM because of tens of thousands of $$$ 11:54  |  Innocent bystander 30/05/08   14.   Re Mike #9 12:02  |  Esther 30/05/08   15.   #11 Esther: may reason prevail! 12:54  |  AliciaYasmeen 30/05/08   16.   Hmmm Esther #14 The good man did a good job in Jerusalem? 13:28  |  S 30/05/08   17.   To isratinian # 6 - No use blinding yourself.... 14:53  |  blueprint 30/05/08   18.   To Alicia Yasmeen # 10 - NO!not America.... 15:10  |  Dagma 30/05/08   19.   Re S #16 15:32  |  Esther 30/05/08   20.   Re Alicia #15 15:50  |  Esther 30/05/08   21.   #18 DAGMA; as if America cared? 16:31  |  AliciaYasmeen 30/05/08   22.   #20 Esther: Assad is an academically educated man 16:47  |  AliciaYasmeen 30/05/08   23.   Hit the road, Jack . . . and Jill 19:21  |  Chrisona 30/05/08   24.   Barrieg 07:23  |  Greenson 01/06/08

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