PM's lawyers say his innocence can be proven; Lador: It's early to assess Talansky's statement.
By JPOST.COM STAFFtalansky court 224.88(photo credit: AP)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's attorneys maintained on Tuesday that there was nothing new or shocking about Morris Talansky's testimony to the Jerusalem District Court, and expressed confidence that Olmert's innocence could be proven through the New York financier's cross-examination, set to take place on July 17.
One of the prime minister's lawyers, Navot Tel-Zur, told Army Radio that he believed Talansky's testimony had been inaccurate due to his emotional state and his treatment by police.
Tel-Zur said the July questioning would probably be "dramatic," adding that new details and information would likely arise by then. "New surprises and new versions are always popping up in investigations," he said.
Tel-Zur stressed that the prime minister maintained that he had done nothing illegal as part of his relationship with Talansky. Another member of Olmert's defense team, Eli Zohar, said: "What we heard today was a story of fundraising and payment of expenses. It begins and ends with that. Nothing came up here that was not published and known [beforehand]."
Meanwhile, State Attorney Moshe Lador emphasized that Talansky's testimony on the vast sums of money that he allegedly gave Olmert throughout the years was not necessarily a prelude to an indictment.
"No decision has been made in the case...no indictment is being considered," Lador told Army Radio as he left the courtroom. "The early testimony cannot even be assessed by us at this stage," he added. As in any case, he said, "the decisions on whether to file an indictment or close the case are made after the investigation is concluded."
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