Borovsky: Olmert's lawyers are behind leaks

Former police officer tells Post 90% of top policemen agree Olmert's attorneys leaking info.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, DAN IZENBERG
olmert talansky 248 88 (photo credit: Channel 10)
olmert talansky 248 88
(photo credit: Channel 10)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's lawyers are responsible for the continuing leaks to the press from the criminal investigation into the premier, a former senior police officer told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. He added that "90 percent of" high-ranking law enforcement officials shared that view. "This is how the leaking process works: Material from the investigation is passed on to lawyers of all parties involved in the form of a CD. The lawyers have the CD transcribed and they leak it as part of a media war," said Cmdr. (ret.) Yaakov Borovsky, former head of the police's northern district. On Wednesday, Yediot Aharonot published the content of the police's interrogation session with Uri Messer, Olmert's close associate, who admitted to keeping large sums of cash for the prime minister. "What happened when Ehud Olmert or Shula Zaken [Olmert's longtime bureau chief] wanted money?" a detective asked Messer. "I would take it out of an envelope and count the amount Shula asked for. Usually I would drive to the [Ehud Olmert's] bureau and give it to her there," he replied. Asked why Olmert's lawyers would release leaks that damaged their own client, Borosky said: "To distract from the police investigation. If they get an investigation launched into the leaks, this would serve Olmert's claims that leaks from the police are taking place." Borosky addressed the decision of Attorney- General Menahem Mazuz to open an investigation into the leaks, saying, "It has been launched to show that the leak does not come from the prosecution." Amir Dan, a spokesman for Olmert, denied Borovsky's claims. "Borovsky is not objective. He has worked for the state comptroller, and it's not surprising that he would say these things." Dan went on to welcome Mazuz's decision to open the probe. "This is my interpretation. My former work place has nothing to do with it," responded Borovsky. "The state comptroller was never against Olmert." Meanwhile, the Israel Police's chief investigator, Cmdr. Yohanan Danino, addressed the leaks for the first time, saying they created "a situation intolerable and unprecedented in its severity." Danino said the leaks were systematic, and were "significantly perverting both the investigation and legal processes." "The claims and hints that law enforcement is the source of the leaks are completely unfounded, as the leaks seriously harm the investigation," he said. At Mazuz's request, Olmert's lawyer Eli Zohar on Wednesday sent a list of 26 people, including Olmert and members of Zohar's staff, who might have seen some or all of the material collected by police in their investigation of the Talansky affair. Earlier in the day, Mazuz had responded to letters from Zohar and attorney Micha Fetman, who represents Zaken, asking for the list of people and their consent to undergo lie detector tests. He wrote that he had made the same request of the police investigation department, the State Attorney's Office and his own office. "At this point, we are looking into the list of everyone who was exposed to the investigation material to assess the conceivability of conducting an effective investigation into the matter," Mazuz wrote. Olmert's spokesman, Amir Dan, charged on Wednesday that "all the red lines have been crossed. The investigation long ago turned into a festival in which all means are legitimate, including tendentious and selective leaks whose only purpose is to cause harm to a presiding prime minister." Meanwhile, a new video has now surfaced that illustrates the relationship the two men had in the past. In a birthday greeting sent by Olmert to Talansky several years ago, the premier calls the New York businessman "one of the most formidable characters I ever met in my life." "Morris Talansky first and foremost is a friend... Of all the people that I've met in the last decade this guy has left a greater imprint on my life and on my day-to-day activities then most people I met," Olmert said. "I feel that in times of trouble, in times of difficulties, in times of need, I'd rather have you next to me than most of the people that I know." With Talansky, Olmert said, "I always get more than I give." "Moish, I love you," he continued. "It's wonderful to be your friend." Itamar Sharon contributed to this report.