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Olmert faces new corruption probe | Olmert faces new corruption probe |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is suspected of illicitly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars before becoming PM, Israeli media report. | |
Police suspect him of unlawfully taking campaign money from a foreign businessman while mayor of Jerusalem. | |
The PM has admitted receiving help with fundraising from a US businessman, but denied ever taking 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, police confirmed in a statement. | |
Mr Olmert was questioned for an hour last Friday over the allegations, which he denied, they said. | |
'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. |
I will resign from my job if the attorney general decides to issue an indictment against me Ehud OlmertIsraeli prime minister | |
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. |
The Talansky contributions were towards two mayoral campaigns for Jerusalem, one campaign for chairman of the Likud Party and another to cover campaign debt retroactively, according to the prime minister. | |
"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. |
Mr Talansky, in Israel to celebrate the Passover holiday, told Channel Two he had been "baffled" when police called him in for questioning. | |
"They [the police] knocked on my door at six in the morning and it was the national police and they asked me to come with them and I obliged," he said. | |
"It was very surprising. When they asked me details, I said whatever I know." | |
He and Mr Olmert, he added, were "very, very friendly" and had often had dinner together in New York. | |
Other investigations | |
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. |
The prime minister has never been charged or convicted in any of the cases. | |
Regarding the latest allegation, he said he hoped the "storm" would "pass with the same speed by which it was ignited". | |
In their statement on Thursday, Israeli police said they had made clear to Mr Olmert that the investigation would continue "on another date". |