Israel: Call for criminal probe of Olmert's business deals
Israel’s state comptroller today recommended the attorney general’s office launch a criminal investigation into a business deal Ehud Olmert conducted before becoming prime minister.
Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss concluded there was a possible conflict of interest in a multimillion-shekel deal Olmert was involved in while minister of industry and trade in a previous government, the comptroller’s office said.
Lindenstrauss has clashed with Olmert in the past, and his recommendation today is not binding.
Corruption allegations have dogged Olmert throughout his long political career, but he never has been convicted.
Authorities are currently conducting a criminal investigation of alleged misconduct in connection with the privatisation of Bank Leumi when he was finance minister in 2005.
