Olmert to be questioned about his shady apartment deal, and Haim Ramon to resign
Ehud Olmert is now rightfully facing an investigation into his shady dealings of past years:
Israel's top government watchdog confirmed Thursday that he is looking into a questionable real estate transaction by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, but said he hasn't yet summoned the prime minister for questioning.And Haim Ramon, following the AG's filing of charges against him for sexual harrassment, now has to resign with the investigation underway:
The State Comptroller's statement came in response to a report in the Haaretz daily that Olmert is to be questioned about the real estate deal in which he allegedly bought a Jerusalem apartment for about $500,000 below its market value. In exchange, Olmert associates allegedly helped the contractor obtain unusual permits from the Jerusalem municipality, Haaretz said in the report.
According to Haaretz, the building in which Olmert's apartment is located was defined as a historic preservation site. The building covers an area of about 330 square meters, and the contractor who sold the apartment to Olmert wanted to expand the building to cover an area of about 750 square meters. In order to do this, however, he needed a permit from the Jerusalem municipality to tear down the existing building and build it anew.
Justice Minister Haim Ramon informed Attorney General Menahem Mazuz on Friday that he intended to forfeit his immunity and right to an appeal and would resign from his post on Sunday.Oh, he's asking for it alright. So I trust that HaNegbi too will resign his position and cooperate with the law.
Ramon asked Attorney General Meni Mazuz to ensure a speedy trial "for personal reasons, but also because of public interest."
"I am sure that I will succeed in court. A kiss of two, three seconds, based on the version of the complainant, cannot be turned into a criminal act," Ramon said in a statement.
The Movement for Quality Government welcomed Ramon's resignation.
He will stand trial on charges of committing an indecent act without consent, Mazuz informed Ramon on Thursday.
He is suspected of having used force to kiss a female soldier on the lips and insert his tongue into her mouth on the day the soldier celebrated her last day of work as a clerk in a government office.
[...]
A similar situation applies to MK Tzahi Hanegbi, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Mazuz informed Hanegbi on Tuesday that he intended to indict him in 30 days unless he asked the Knesset to uphold his parliamentary immunity and the Knesset agreed. If the indictment is filed, it appears that Hanegbi will also have to resign.
Labels: political corruption
