RAMALLAH: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert claimed in questioning sessions with investigators that the envelopes he received from US businessman Morris Talansky contained “only a few hundred dollars”, Israeli dailies Ma’ariv and Globes reported yesterday.
Tomorrow, investigators from the National Fraud Unit are scheduled to question Olmert for the third time in connection with the case. Reportedly, they will base their investigation on preliminary material and findings of the investigators currently working on the case in the US.
Olmert reportedly asserted during his interrogations that the money was only intended to cover expenses during US tours sponsored by Talansky.
According to the Ma’ariv, the police see Olmert’s admission as important, since he does not refute the allegation that he had received envelopes of money, or the method of transfer, but only the amounts.
Olmert is under suspicion of illegally receiving large funds from the millionaire New York financier beginning in 1998 when he was mayor of Jerusalem and, through to 2006.
