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Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Sunday. (AP)
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| By Associated Press February 22, 2006 |
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Israel's state comptroller is looking into the sale of acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Jerusalem house to a U.S. political activist, Olmert said Tuesday, hinting at a possible scandal that might affect Israel's March 28 election.
Olmert told Israel TV that he turned over documents concerning the sale to the comptroller.
The Haaretz daily said the comptroller started his investigation after the paper submitted questions about the deal. Haaretz said Olmert sold the home in 2004 for $2.7 million to an offshore company controlled by U.S. tycoon David Abrams, who contributed to an earlier Olmert election campaign. Olmert continues to live in the house, paying rent at about half the going rate, the paper said.
The paper said the sale price was high but not unreasonable.
Olmert has been mentioned in several corruption cases over the years but has never been charged. He has always denied any wrongdoing.
Several parties running against Olmert's Kadima Party are trying to capitalize on police investigations of Kadima leaders, including founder Ariel Sharon and his sons. Sharon was felled by a stroke on Jan. 4 and has been in a coma ever since.
In a related development on Tuesday, Israel's attorney general, Meni Mazuz, ruled that Kadima Cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi cannot serve in the Cabinet after the election. Mazuz ruled earlier that Hanegbi should be indicted in connection with a political appointments in a ministry he controlled in a previous government.
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