Posted on 05/21/2008 11:26:56 AM PDT by mojito
The National Fraud Unit now believes Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made "personal use" of the funds he received from New York financier Morris Talansky, a senior law enforcement official confirmed, as a media-ban on the criminal investigation was lifted Wednesday evening.
"Talansky transferred money to Olmert for personal use, and not just for campaign expenses," the official said.
Olmert has claimed that the stream of cash envelopes he received from Talansky over a period of years was used to fund election campaigns, and to cover campaign deficits - but his assertion is now openly being challenged by police.
The charge of "personal use of funds" was tantamount to an allegation of bribery, a second source said, suggesting that the police was softening its terminology to maintain a cautious approach.
Shula Zaken, Olmert's former bureau chief and secretary of many years "knowingly handled the funds," the law enforcement official added, making her, too, liable to criminal charges.
"Since Olmert became prime minister, and up until this day, he has failed to register or declare the funds he received from Talansky," the official said.
A team of National Fraud Unit detectives will fly out to the United States soon to continue its investigation, the official added.
On Tuesday, a former senior police official said police had found Olmert's account of the cash's destinations to be "unconvincing."
"Olmert said the money went to cover [campaign] deficits, but he has shown no proof of that. Some fictitious accounts may also be involved," the source said.
The National Fraud Unit will question Olmert for a second time in Jerusalem on Friday morning, the Israel Police announced on Tuesday.
It’s Bibi time!
Isn't that a required trait to qualify as a candidate for public office these days?
Reminds me of the scene in the “Mobsters” where Arnold Rothstein gets in Lucky Luciano’s face and asks something to the effect “what most important?” Luciano looks bewildered and Rothstein leans down and shouts, “MONEY!”
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oh please oh please!!! get this appeaser out of there!!! Bring on Bibi!!!!
don’t hey investigate very PM ? What the h*ll is going on over there?
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