Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has decided not to open a criminal investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a noted pen-collector, regarding the various expensive pens given to him over the years.
Mazuz explained today that the police had failed to uncover concrete evidence indicating that the pens served as bribe.
The charges covered the last 10-15 years, when he served as Mayor of Jerusalem, Minister of Trade, and other positions
In the most suspicious case, a German businessman who wished to have a golf course in Eilat removed from Israel Lands Authority jurisdiction so that he could build in the area bought Olmert a pen worth between $900 and $1,750. However, Mazuz noted that the pen was merely a "birthday gift," and that in any event, the businessman did not receive preferential treatment.
"A public servant is permitted to receive gifts from friends," Mazuz said, "and not every gift raises the suspicion of illegal benefits."
The Hebrew news site NFC, which first reported on the "pens" suspicions, also wrote that Olmert was suspected of obstructing justice by "removing from his house 240 expensive fountain pens that he received as bribes" from dozens of people over the course of the past few years.
Mazuz explained today that the police had failed to uncover concrete evidence indicating that the pens served as bribe.
The charges covered the last 10-15 years, when he served as Mayor of Jerusalem, Minister of Trade, and other positions
In the most suspicious case, a German businessman who wished to have a golf course in Eilat removed from Israel Lands Authority jurisdiction so that he could build in the area bought Olmert a pen worth between $900 and $1,750. However, Mazuz noted that the pen was merely a "birthday gift," and that in any event, the businessman did not receive preferential treatment.
"A public servant is permitted to receive gifts from friends," Mazuz said, "and not every gift raises the suspicion of illegal benefits."
The Hebrew news site NFC, which first reported on the "pens" suspicions, also wrote that Olmert was suspected of obstructing justice by "removing from his house 240 expensive fountain pens that he received as bribes" from dozens of people over the course of the past few years.