Police announced Thursday that an investigation into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's behavior in the 'Cremieux Street Affair' will be closed due to lack of evidence. Police said they would transfer the file to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, who will make a final decision on whether or not to close the case.
Olmert was suspected of taking a bribe in the form of an intentionally reduced price for the purchase of a home on Cremieux Street in Jerusalem. In return, he allegedly used his influence as mayor of the city to assist the firm that built the home by allowing it to raze a historic landmark and build more units than had previously been approved.
Suspicions of bribery were first raised in mid-2006. Olmert was questioned by the National Fraud Unit on several occasions over the past year.
“From day one, we knew there was nothing to this case,” said Olmert's PR man, Amir Din, in response to the Fraud Unit's announcement.
“It's not clear why it took three years to investigate such a simple allegation,” he added.
The good news for Olmert followed bad news last month. In February, police announced that they believe they have enough evidence to try Olmert in two other affairs, one involving allegations that he illegally helped his business associates while working as Minister of Trade and Labor, and the second involving allegations that he appointed friends to high-paying positions.