5 September 2008 / REUTERS, JERUSALEM
Police are likely to recommend on Sunday indicting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges, Israeli media reported on Thursday.
With Olmert committed to resigning after his Kadima Party holds a leadership election on Sept. 17, a police recommendation to bring charges against him will have no immediate impact on his tenure and does not guarantee an indictment will be filed. Newspaper and radio reports said police had completed three of five corruption probes against Olmert and would on Sunday issue their findings to the state prosecution and likely recommend he be put on trial. Olmert has denied any wrongdoing. Police believe they have evidence showing that Olmert illegally received money from a US businessman, made duplicate claims for travel expenses and used a former cabinet post to promote a friend's business interests, the media reports said. A police spokesman had no immediate comment. Amir Dan, Olmert's media adviser, appeared to be resigned to a police recommendation that charges be brought. "I don't understand why police have to hold discussions on the case when their conclusions were determined well in advance," Dan told Israeli Army Radio. Under Israeli law, police must submit their recommendations 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. In 2004, Mazuz, citing insufficient evidence, decided not to indict then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a corruption case despite police and prosecution recommendations to bring charges.
