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Olmert faces new corruption probe | Olmert faces new corruption probe |
(10 minutes later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is suspected of illicitly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars before becoming PM, it has emerged. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is suspected of illicitly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars before becoming PM, it has emerged. |
The allegations suggest he took campaign money from a US businessman while mayor of Jerusalem. | The allegations suggest he took campaign money from a US businessman while mayor of Jerusalem. |
The PM admitted he had received help with election fundraising, but said he had never taken bribes. He said he would resign if charges were pressed. | The PM admitted he had received help with election fundraising, but said he had never taken bribes. He said he would resign if charges were pressed. |
He faces a number of investigations into corruption allegations. | He faces a number of investigations into corruption allegations. |
The investigation into his affairs was subject to a gagging order but this was partially loosened on Thursday. | The investigation into his affairs was subject to a gagging order but this was partially loosened on Thursday. |
Mr Olmert was questioned by Israeli police over the allegation last Friday. | Mr Olmert was questioned by Israeli police over the allegation last Friday. |
'Not a penny' | 'Not a penny' |
Jewish US businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky is said to have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to Mr Olmert at a series of meetings. | Jewish US businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky is said to have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to Mr Olmert at a series of meetings. |
According to Channel 2 TV, police said they did not know how the money was used. | According to Channel 2 TV, police said they did not know how the money was used. |
Mr Olmert said Mr Talansky had helped him raise election funds but he insisted everything had been legal. | Mr Olmert said Mr Talansky had helped him raise election funds but he insisted everything had been legal. |
"I never took bribes, I never took a penny for myself," he said in a televised statement to the press on Thursday night. | "I never took bribes, I never took a penny for myself," he said in a televised statement to the press on Thursday night. |
The former mayor of Jerusalem became prime minister in 2006 after leading the Kadima party of Ariel Sharon to victory in the March general election. | The former mayor of Jerusalem became prime minister in 2006 after leading the Kadima party of Ariel Sharon to victory in the March general election. |
"I was elected by you, citizens of Israel, to be the prime minister and I don't intend to shirk this responsibility," he said responding to the allegations on Thursday. | "I was elected by you, citizens of Israel, to be the prime minister and I don't intend to shirk this responsibility," he said responding to the allegations on Thursday. |
"I will resign from my job if the attorney general decides to issue an indictment against me." | "I will resign from my job if the attorney general decides to issue an indictment against me." |
In November 2007, Israeli police dropped an investigation into Mr Olmert in connection with a bank privatisation. | In November 2007, Israeli police dropped an investigation into Mr Olmert in connection with a bank privatisation. |
At the time, they were still investigating two other cases in which Mr Olmert is alleged to have behaved improperly. | At the time, they were still investigating two other cases in which Mr Olmert is alleged to have behaved improperly. |