A-G Mazuz closes another case against Olmert

File alleging former PM took NIS 1 million bribe for assisting interest groups closed for lack of sufficient evidence.

By JPOSTLEO GIOSUÈCOM STAFF, DAN IZENBERG
mazuz 248.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
mazuz 248.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz closed another one of the cases against former prime minister Ehud Olmert on Monday. The complaint against Olmert was originally filed by the Movement for Quality Government in May 2008 and alleged that Olmert, when he served as labor, trade and infrastructure minister in Ariel Sharon's government, illegally accepted a NIS 1 million bribe for assisting the Laniado Hospital in Netanya as well helping the Sanz Hasidic community. The movement alleged that Olmert was given the money by Sanz community member Moshe Reich. Attorney Ran Nazri, a senior assistant of Mazuz, wrote in a letter to the Movement for Quality Government that following instructions given by Mazuz, police conducted an investigation which included collecting testimonies from people involved in the affair. However, the police could not come up with evidence sufficient to substantiate the accusations, and as such, Mazuz decided to close the case. On Sunday, the High Court of Justice gave the state until Aug. 26 to respond to a petition filed by investigative reporter Yoav Yitzhak against the attorney-general's decision to close a different criminal investigation against Olmert. The probe regards allegations that Olmert received a bribe when he purchased his home on Cremieux St. in Jerusalem's German Colony. Olmert and his wife were suspected of receiving a $330,000 discount on the purchase of the house. In return, the former prime minister was suspected of intervening with Jerusalem city planning officials to grant substantial building benefits to the developer. Last month, Mazuz closed the case for lack of sufficient evidence. Yitzhak was the one who originally raised the allegation and lodged a complaint with the state comptroller. In his petition, Yitzhak wrote that Mazuz "made a severe mistake" in closing the case without an indictment.