Unless Mazuz decides, we cannot expect an indictment of Olmert
The Israeli police are seeking an indictment of Ehud Olmert:
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli police said on Sunday they wanted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to face criminal charges in a corruption scandal driving him from office during peace talks with the Palestinians.See, that's the problem: Menahem Mazuz, who's a fairly shady person himself, has been unwilling to make a convincing decision, and has been no better than many other judicial officials who've refused to act responsibly. He's the reason why no clear decision's been made for 2 years now, when he could've done it earlier. Will he or won't he indict Olmert? The answer is not going to be clear, I'm sure.
Issuing a non-binding recommendation, police said they had evidence showing that Olmert illegally received money from a U.S. businessman and made duplicate claims for travel expenses when he served as mayor of Jerusalem and trade and industry minister.
He has denied any wrongdoing in a series of investigations.
A police document said the recommendation included charges of bribery, fraud, money laundering and breach of public trust over funds that "reached hundreds of thousands of dollars."
With Olmert committed to resigning after his Kadima party holds a leadership vote on September 17, the recommendation will have no immediate impact on his tenure and does not guarantee an indictment will be filed by Israel's attorney-general.
Olmert's lawyers called the police recommendation "meaningless" because only the attorney-general can decide whether or not to indict a prime minister.
"We will wait patiently for the attorney-general's decision, and as opposed to the police, we have no doubt in our hearts he is well aware of the responsibility he carries," the lawyers said in a statement.
[...]
One case focuses on New York-based fundraiser Morris Talansky who testified in an Israeli court in May he had given Olmert $150,000 in cash-stuffed envelopes over a 15-year period.
The police document said: "The investigation showed that Talansky transferred to Olmert over the years, at least since 1997, significant sums of money, in different ways, some in cash and illegally."
At the same time, Olmert used his position to promote Talansky's businesses, the police said.
The second case deals with allegations that Olmert double billed trips abroad with public institutions, including Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, and used the extra money to fund private trips for himself and his family.
The police said they will continue investigating Olmert over allegations he used a former cabinet post to promote a friend's business interests and will soon decide whether to recommend further charges.
Under Israeli law, police submit their recommendation to the prosecution which then files its own legal opinion to Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz, who is the only one authorized to indict a prime minister.
A prosecution source said it would take at least several weeks for Mazuz to decide. Mazuz has in the past turned down police recommendations to indict a sitting prime minister.
Labels: Israel, political corruption
