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Israeli PM 'should be indicted' | Israeli PM 'should be indicted' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Israeli police have formally recommended to prosecutors that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert be indicted in a corruption investigation. | |
The decision about whether to indict Mr Olmert now rests with Attorney General Meni Mazuz. | The decision about whether to indict Mr Olmert now rests with Attorney General Meni Mazuz. |
Mr Olmert has already announced that he will resign later this month because of the multiple corruption investigations he is facing. | Mr Olmert has already announced that he will resign later this month because of the multiple corruption investigations he is facing. |
He has consistently denied all the accusations against him. | He has consistently denied all the accusations against him. |
The ruling Kadima party is to hold a leadership vote on 17 September. | The ruling Kadima party is to hold a leadership vote on 17 September. |
EHUD OLMERT'S POLITICAL LIFE 1993: Begins 10-year stint as mayor of Jerusalem2005: Leaves right-wing Likud party with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form Kadima2006: Takes over as leader when Ariel Sharon suffers a stroke2007: Helps re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after seven-year hiatus2008: Announces plans to resign New Israeli leader, same puzzlesEhud Olmert: Corruption allegations | |
The police said they had evidence showing Mr Olmert allegedly accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from American businessman Morris Talansky. | |
Mr Olmert is also accused of filing duplicate claims to government agencies for travel expenses. | |
The accusations date back to his time as mayor of Jerusalem and minister of trade and industry before he became prime minister in 2006. | |
Mr Olmert's lawyers said the police recommendation to indict the prime minister was meaningless. | |
"The only person authorised by the law to decide whether to indict a prime minister is the attorney general. He has the authority and he bears the responsibility over the issue," his lawyers said in a statement. | |
Mr Mazuz is expected to make his decision in the next few weeks. |