Israeli Attorney General Menahem Mazuz on Sunday ordered police
to open an additional investigation, the third of its kind, against
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on suspicion of granting improper
political favors.
Israeli Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Xinhua that the
police would appoint a team of investigators to handle the case in
the coming days.
The prime minister is suspected of making political appointments
and assisting political cronies while serving as industry and trade
minister between 2003 and 2005, according to local popular daily
Ha'aretz.
The police will as well probe into Olmert for allegedly helping
his associate and former business partner, Attorney Uri Messer, who
applied for loans to the Investment Center.
"These investigations are unnecessary," Olmert's office was
quoted by the website of local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as responding
to Mazuz's decision.
"It is clear beyond any doubt that these investigations will end
with nothing, and today's decision will lead to that in practice,"
his office added.
Olmert has already been questioned by probe teams twice last
week for allegations of impropriety in the privatization of
Israel's second-largest bank, Leumi.
He is also suspected of buying a Jerusalem home from a real
estate developer at a substantial discount in return for helping
the builder obtain construction permits from Jerusalem
authorities.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2007)
