Government lawyers told former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Monday he may face a fourth indictment while still facing further charges in the Holyland bribe scandal.
His lawyers complained that the law enforcement system is using Olmert to make a name for itself. “It is surprising that the state prosecution has not yet begun to investigate Olmert on suspicion that he did not cross the street at a cross-walk," they said.
The former prime minister, who headed the Kadima party and the government after taking over the reins from stroke-ridden Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, already faces trials on three other charges. He is accused of pocketing cash through double billing for travel expenses, illegally receiving at least $150,000 in cash from American businessman Morris Talansky, and improper behavior in what is known as the Investment Center affair.
The latest impending indictment concerns charges that while he was Minister for Industry, Trade and Labor in the Sharon government, he appointed political cronies to bolster his own political position in the Likud party, which then was in power.
Government attorneys said an indictment depends on the outcome of a hearing, but Olmert already has waived his right for hearings in the three other cases.
As a government minister and deputy prime minister in 2004 and 2005, he allegedly doled out favors to political friends in various government companies and offices. Charges of breach of trust and fraud also may be filed against Oved Yehezkel, who was Cabinet Secetary at the time.
Olmert, who as prme minister changed his political colors rapidly from that of a strong nationalist to center-leftist on the issue of Palestinian Authority demands, is being investigated for allegedly receiving huge sums of money in bribery in the development of the Holyland apartment complex.
His lawyers vehemently protested the timing of Monday’s notification of a possible new indictment. “The timing of the prosecution's announcement at this precise moment raises hard questions with regards to the calculations and good faith of those responsible for it,” they said.
Referring to the Holyland probe, the lawyers added, “For the past three weeks, we have witnessed a campaign of unrestrained incitement against Olmert by law enforcement elements even though he has not even been interrogated at all about Holyland or asked a single question.”
Regarding alleged illegal political appointments, the lawyers stated, “We are talking about a matter which has been blown out of all proportion. There was nothing wrong with the procedure for appointing these job holders.”