'I did not accept bribes,' says Olmert in corruption trial

Former PM bangs on table while denying charges, slams State Attorney for publicizing scandals before probe, calls Schalit capture "traumatic."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Olmert arriving at trial 311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Olmert arriving at trial 311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Former prime minister Ehud Olmert said he did not accept bribes on Thursday, during his testimony in his corruption case at the Jerusalem District Court.
"I did not accept a bribe from Talansky. I did not hide a bribe from Uri Messer. I said it to the investigators and I'll say it today," Olmert said, yelling and banging on a table.
Olmert also said that the State Attorney is turning him into a "serial criminal," during testimony.
Olmert said that he does not understand why it was publicized every time the State Attorney's Office considered investigating his actions.
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"I don't remember when [the State Attorney] became the public loudspeaker for every little thing that was said," Olmert said.
Olmert also discussed the capture of soldier Gilad Schalit during his tenure as prime minister, calling it a "traumatic event."
Olmert said: "Schalit still isn't with us. It's a difficult issue."
He added that the government "did things that we can't talk about" to try to return the captive soldier to Israel.
He also referred to a military operation, which he authorized but could not speak about.
Olmert took the stand in his corruption trial for the first time on Tuesday.