Olmert faces corruption probe
ISN SECURITY WATCH (Wednesday, 22 February: 09.15 CET) – Interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert faces a corruption probe into the sale of his house in Jerusalem.
Israel's ombudsman, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, has announced an inquiry into Olmert's sale of the residence to an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands. The acting premier's lawyers told Ha'aretz newspaper that the owner of the company is US billionaire Daniel Abrams who is a well-known and prolific contributor to Israeli political campaigns.
The comptroller will also investigate Olmert's ties to Abrams, who gave NIS193,000 (US$41,055) to the acting prime minister for a Jerusalem mayoral campaign.
Lindenstrauss is already looking into a US$120,000 campaign contribution from Abrams to former prime minister Shimon Peres' Labor primary campaign last November. Peres, who lost the internal party poll, left Labor shortly after the defeat and is now number two on the Kadima list headed by Olmert.
The acting prime minister denies any wrongdoing, releasing a statement through his office saying that he had informed the state comptroller of the sale18 months ago.
However, it appears that Olmert did not inform the comptroller that the company to which the building was sold belonged to Abrams. He has continued to live in the house on a rental of US$2,600 a month, a figure that a local real estate appraiser, spoken to by Ha'aretz, said could easily rent for twice that figure.
Olmert has chosen to stand by embattled minister Tzahi Hanegbi, who Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ruled cannot be appointed to a permanent cabinet position following the March 2006 parliamentary elections due to his indictment on corruption charges.
The corruption scandals enveloping the new Kadima party are likely to provide ammunition for political rivals ahead of the parliamentary poll.
Israel's ombudsman, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, has announced an inquiry into Olmert's sale of the residence to an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands. The acting premier's lawyers told Ha'aretz newspaper that the owner of the company is US billionaire Daniel Abrams who is a well-known and prolific contributor to Israeli political campaigns.
The comptroller will also investigate Olmert's ties to Abrams, who gave NIS193,000 (US$41,055) to the acting prime minister for a Jerusalem mayoral campaign.
Lindenstrauss is already looking into a US$120,000 campaign contribution from Abrams to former prime minister Shimon Peres' Labor primary campaign last November. Peres, who lost the internal party poll, left Labor shortly after the defeat and is now number two on the Kadima list headed by Olmert.
The acting prime minister denies any wrongdoing, releasing a statement through his office saying that he had informed the state comptroller of the sale18 months ago.
However, it appears that Olmert did not inform the comptroller that the company to which the building was sold belonged to Abrams. He has continued to live in the house on a rental of US$2,600 a month, a figure that a local real estate appraiser, spoken to by Ha'aretz, said could easily rent for twice that figure.
Olmert has chosen to stand by embattled minister Tzahi Hanegbi, who Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ruled cannot be appointed to a permanent cabinet position following the March 2006 parliamentary elections due to his indictment on corruption charges.
The corruption scandals enveloping the new Kadima party are likely to provide ammunition for political rivals ahead of the parliamentary poll.
posted by Marko at 2/22/2006 07:39:00 AM
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