Tel-Chai Nation

Although the attorney-general decided to close the Cremieux case, the police are recommending an indictment of Ehud Olmert for a few other crimes he committed in his past years as a minister:

Police on Monday recommended indicting former prime minister Ehud Olmert for allegedly appointing acquaintances from Likud to a range of positions and granting them benefits in an improper manner.

The police statement was made hours after Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz announced his decision to close another case against Olmert - one involving alleged irregularities in his purchase of a home on Jerusalem's Rehov Cremieux.

The benefited individuals in the appointments case hail from a host of companies - including Bezeq, the Israel Postal Company, the Small Business Authority and the Labor Court - which Olmert had authority over during the period in question, police said.

"During the months of investigation, some 400 people involved were interrogated and testified regarding 260 appointments or benefits," police added.

"The investigation team is convinced that there is evidence that Mr. Olmert, Oved Yehezkel - his former senior assistant, and Ra'anan Dinur - former CEO of the Trade Industry and Labor Ministry, acted out of a severe conflict of interests when granting promotions and benefits for their acquaintances, members of the Likud Central Committee," police said.

[...]

Police said it found evidence of improper benefits, appointments and actions to promote Likud Central Committee members and activists, as well as proof that Olmert answered requests to guarantee the jobs of acquaintances or prevented them from being fired.

I hope that Olmert is finally indicted for something, because the attorney-general seems intent on avoiding it. Mazuz is a problem, believe me.

Labels: Israel, Jerusalem, political corruption