Olmert to be questioned Tues. on role in Bank Leumi affair
Olmert suspected of interfering with tender to help friend; police will decide on indictment based on testimony.
By Jonathan Lis Tags: Ehud Olmert Bank LeumiThe National Fraud Investigation Unit will question Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in his official Jerusalem residence on Tuesday on his involvement in the sale of the state's controlling interest in Bank Leumi.
Senior police sources say that Olmert's testimony will determine whether an indictment will be filed, because up until now they have not amassed unequivocal evidence against him.
The investigation is headed by the head of the fraud unit, Shlomi Ayalon, and Chief Superintendent Eran Kamin. The team is expected to transfer all of the investigation material to the State Prosecution immediately after the prime minister's testimony is taken.
Olmert is suspected of attempting to intervene in the tender for the privatization of Bank Leumi on behalf of his friend, the Australian businessman Frank Lowy. The tender for the bank's privatization was published in November 2005, four months after Olmert replaced Benjamin Netanyahu at the treasury.
During that time, Olmert demanded various changes to the tender, which he explained were aimed at encouraging strategic, rather than merely financial, investors to bid. However, law enforcement officials suspect that the changes were meant to help Lowy.
In the end, however, Lowy withdrew from the tender shortly before it closed.
The suspicions against Olmert first emerged during an audit of the sale by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss. The comptroller heard testimony from Accountant General Yaron Zelekha and other officials in Zelekha's office. After finishing his audit, Lindenstrauss transferred the material to Mazuz, who then asked the police to conduct "preliminary inquiries" into the matter.
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PM Ehud Olmert. (Archives) |
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cops seem to still have some more integrity. I don't know what it takes but....just lock him up where he can't do more damage to our Country!!
If you had to come up with one object that describes Israel you'd have to pick a corkscrew.
Olmert should resign and let Israel regain self respect.We have seen a barrel full of rapists,fondlers,tax evaders,masturbators,incompetents together with a chief of staff who creates his own war portfolio but forgets equipment for the troops.To cap it all the Minister of Defence prefers war with lens caps on.They all need to resign or be thrown out.Perhaps the French can lend us a guillotine as I,m sure many people would be willing to spomsor a few baskets.Seriously speaking though,the situation is a disaster and we need elections now so that Olmert can have his day in court.Perhaps they all tried their hardest but it just wasn,t good enough.I wish them all well in their retirement,doubtless at the expense of the public purse.
The PM (former lawyer) might be an expert at finding his way through the courts, but it involves too much attention, particularly when Israel needs a full time PM with Syria's saber rattling and the November peace talks coming up. He will no doubt get off the hook, but for Israel affairs of state are more important and need a full time leader. Olmert should step aside and let Barak, who has much more security experience should take over.