Olmert to undergo 2nd round of questioning in latest corruption probe

Source: AFP, 21-05-2008
OCCUPIED 'JERUSALEM' (AL-QUDS): 'Israeli' Premier Ehud Olmert will be questioned this week for a second time in the latest corruption probe against him, which has stirred calls for his resignation, police said on Tuesday. "The prime minister will be questioned ... Friday in [Occupied] 'Jerusalem' (al-Quds) by investigators of the anti-fraud squad," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Police are seeking to establish whether Olmert dispensed any favors in exchange for allegedly illegal funds he received from American millionaire financier Morris Talansky during the 13 years before he became premier in 2006. Olmert, 62, was mayor of Occupied 'Jerusalem' from 1993 to 2003 and then trade and industry minister.
He was first questioned in the case on May 2 when senior anti-fraud squad officers interviewed the prime minister at his official residence for just over one hour.
Prosecutor Moshe Lador said before the 'Israeli' High Court on Monday that Olmert received envelopes stuffed with cash from Talansky.
But Attorney General Menahem Mazuz has made it clear it would be unrealistic to expect any swift indictment. "I am not at all certain that we will be able to present a formal charge in the coming weeks," he said.
Olmert has denied any wrongdoing but admitted he received money from Talansky to help finance his electoral campaigns in 1999 and 2003.
Olmert, who has been dogged by scandals since he became prime minister, has said he would quit if charges were pressed. His political opponents are saying he should quit right now, or at least step down pending the outcome of the investigation, the fifth to be conducted against him since he took office.
His allies in the government coalition are also growing increasingly uneasy, even though Olmert has in the past demonstrated an uncanny ability to weather political crises, corruption scandals and abysmally low popularity ratings.
Defense (War) Minister Ehud Barak, who leads the Labor Party has said he expected an early election would be held by early 2009, well before Olmert's term is due to end in November 2010.
And a majority of 'Israelis' believe Olmert should resign. An opinion poll out last week showed 62 percent believe he should step down, while only 32 percent would like him to continue in his position.
Also Tuesday, the court ruled against a bid by Olmert's lawyers to block a deposition by Talansky.
The defense had argued that Talansky's deposition should not be heard until an indictment had been issued, but the court said it saw no reason why his testimony should be delayed. The deposition is scheduled for Sunday.