Israeli police believes that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made "personal use" of the funds he received from a U.S. businessman, a senior law enforcement official said Wednesday.
The charge of "personal use of funds" was equivalent to an allegation of bribery, local daily The Jerusalem Post cited a second source as saying, suggesting that the police was softening its wording to maintain a cautious approach.
Documents seized by police investigators from the offices of the Jerusalem Municipality and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor indicate that Olmert received envelopes full of cash from New York financier Morris Talansky, another daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its web site.
The money, which Olmert has claimed was used for election campaigns, was expended "for personal use," with some for his trips abroad, local media reported after a gag order on the ongoing probe was lifted a week ago.
Olmert's former secretary Shula Zaken, who "knowingly handled the funds," is also liable to criminal charges, while the police is yet to know what Talansky may have received in return, according the report.
Law enforcement officials revealed that a team of Israeli detectives will fly to the United States soon to further the fifth investigation against Olmert.
Olmert denied any wrongdoing in the fifth probe against him and has said he will resign if indicted.
He will face another police questioning session on Friday, the same day when the Jerusalem District Court is to hold a hearing to determine whether to delay the pretrial deposition of Talansky as requested by Olmert's lawyers.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)
