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| By Israel Insider staff and partners February 5, 2007 |
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Israel's state comptroller, a government watchdog, presented a draft of its report on a suspect real estate deal involving Ehud Olmert to the Prime Minister, the comptroller's office said Sunday in a statement. The case could develop into a criminal investigation.
The statement said only that the office investigated complaints about the purchase of a house in a historical Jerusalem neighborhood. The draft was given to Olmert and Jerusalem officials, who were asked to respond by the end of the month.
Israeli officials said the focus of the investigation is the finding that Olmert paid $325,000 less than market value for the property, leading to suspicions of fraud and bribery. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the draft report cannot be made public.
If Olmert were indicted, he would have to resign, but such a development would be many steps down the road.
Olmert has been dogged by corruption allegations throughout his long political career but has never been convicted. He has denied any wrongdoing in the Jerusalem deal.
In addition to corruption allegation regarding the Jerusalem home, Olmert has been accused of other forms of bribery and illegal appointment of officials while he held public offices such as minister of Industry and Trade.
Ministry employees have come forward in the past claiming that Olmert appointed outsiders to high level positions in exchange for bribes and political failures.
Olmert has also been accused of taking bribes in the form of expensive pens. His fine pen collection has an estimated worth in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Additionally, there have been questions regarding the sale of his wife's amateur paintings, which have reportedly fetched prices upwards of $100,000.
The prime minister has seen a spate of corruption allegations and charges levied against his closest political and personal allies in recent weeks.
Haim Ramon, a former member of Olmert's Cabinet and a close confidante, was found guilty of sexual misconduct for forcibly kissing a female soldier. Also, Olmert's office chief and longtime friend, Shula Zaken, was placed under house arrest related to charges that she took bribes and used her position to influence the appointment of officials in Israel's Tax Authority.
Similar charges of corruption of been made against Olmert's longtime political ally and finance minister, Abraham Hirchson.
AP contributed to this article. |
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