ISRAEL: Israeli state prosecuter orders criminal investigation of PM OLmert over Bank deal.

Record ID: 401309

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israeli state prosecuter orders criminal investigation of PM OLmert over Bank deal.
  • Date: 17th January 2007
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF OF BANK LEUMI / BANK SIGN AND PEOPLE AT CASH MACHINES
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADFF3P3BDQA137HVLIWED1LVVP
  • Story Text: Israel's state prosecutor ordered a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's role in the 2005 privatisation of an Israeli bank. Israel's state prosecutor on Tuesday (January 16) ordered a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's role in the 2005 privatisation of an Israeli bank, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.
    "The state prosecutor (Eran Shendar) has ordered the opening of a criminal investigation," the statement said.
    Israel Radio quoted aides to Olmert as saying he had been notified by the state prosecutor of the decision. The aides urged police to act swiftly to "remove the cloud of suspicion", the radio quoted an aide as saying.
    Israel's state comptroller had been looking into whether Olmert promoted the interests of two businessmen, described in media reports as close friends of the prime minister, in the state sale of Bank Leumi in 2005. Olmert was finance minister at the time.
    Neither of the men purchased the bank and Olmert has denied any wrongdoing.
    The Justice Ministry statement said prosecutors had first approached Olmert on Oct. 29 as part of a preliminary investigation.
    Olmert's government has been dogged by repeated political scandals and criticism over last summer's inconclusive war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group.
    A poll published Friday showed Olmert's approval ratings have slipped to 14 percent and his centrist Kadima party would lose nearly two-thirds of its strength if new elections were held.
    The state comptroller, Israel's main government watchdog, is also examining the terms of Olmert's purchase of a Jerusalem apartment in 2004.
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