State to open criminal investigation on Olmert

The state has decided to open a criminal investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on his alleged role in the Bank Leumi stock scandal. Attorney General Menahem Mazuz, who would ordinarily be the official to declare a criminal investigation into a head of state, removed himself from the Olmert investigation due to a conflict of interest, Channel 10 reported, as his sister may have been involved in the scandal. Instead, State Attorney Eran Shendar will announce the criminal investigation after Olmert returns from his visit to China.