Olmert faces fourth grilling over corruption allegations

Source: Agencies  |   2008-8-3  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ISRAELI police questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Friday for the fourth time in a corruption investigation that has brought about his political downfall.

Friday's session was the latest round of questioning on suspicions that Olmert improperly accepted money from an American businessman. Another case involves alleged violations in funding trips abroad.

While police have not charged Olmert, public anger over allegations that he had a lavish lifestyle further damaged already dismal approval ratings. Olmert announced on Wednesday that he will resign after his Kadima Party holds primaries in September to replace him.

The investigation has seriously hampered Olmert's ability to conclude peace deals with the Palestinians and Syria, although he has said he will persist in those efforts as long as he is premier.

Police questioned Olmert at his Jerusalem residence for three hours, his spokesman, Amir Dan, said.

"The prime minister answered all of the investigators' questions," Dan said. "Of his own volition, he suggested adding an hour to the questioning. The questions were to the point."

Dates will be set next week for further questioning, Dan said.

The most damaging inquiry focuses on American Jewish businessman Morris Talansky, 76, who testified that he gave Olmert envelopes stuffed with tens of thousands of dollars before he became prime minister, in part to finance Olmert's lifestyle of expensive hotels and fat cigars.