Police Recommend Olmert Indictment

By JTA March 6, 2009

Israel’s National Fraud Unit will recommend to the attorney general that Ehud Olmert be indicted in another scandal.

Police say the prime minister should be charged with fraud and breach of public trust for his involvement with the Israel Investments Center.

Olmert is accused of using his influence as minister of industry and trade to favor his supporters and friends. One case cited is his giving government backing to a project to build a joint Israeli-Jordanian recreation project near Eilat and Aqaba to be managed by Olmert crony Uri Messer.

Olmert served as trade minister under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The investments center affair is one of six ongoing investigations against Olmert. The indictment recommendation comes less than a week after Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced he would charge Olmert in the affair involving U.S. businessman Morris Talansky.

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