Police question Olmert for tenth time

Prime minister interrogated for 2.5 hours at his J'lem residence over Investment Center scandal.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
olmert 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
olmert 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
National Fraud Unit investigators questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for the 10th time on Friday over corruption allegations. Army Radio reported that the prime minister was interrogated for two-and-a-half hours at his Jerusalem residence about the Investment Center scandal, in which he is suspected of funneling approximately NIS 7.67 million to businesses run by an associate in the Likud central committee during his tenure as industry, trade and labor minister. Olmert was also reportedly grilled over allegations that he made political appointments in the Business Authority while serving in the same capacity. Last Friday, Olmert was grilled for two hours in a session which focused on completing the inquiry into the Rishon Tours affair, in which police say he double-billed charities and a government ministry for the same airplane expenses, and misused funds to pay for personal family travel. Police have already recommended indicting the prime minister in the case. Following last week's interrogation, Olmert's media adviser, Amir Dan, slammed investigators, saying that instead of admitting they had "toppled a prime minister" on the basis of "a partial picture alone," they were trying to cover up their failures by "inventing" the completion of the inquiry. Abe Selig contributed to this report.