Israel's Ex-PM Olmert Charged With Corruption
By VOA News
30 August 2009
Israeli state prosecutors have indicted former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in three corruption cases, making him the first former Israeli premier to face criminal charges.
The prosecutors on Sunday presented the indictment papers against Mr. Olmert to a Jerusalem court. He is charged with fraud, breach of trust and falsifying documents.
These charges relate to three cases in which Mr. Olmert is accused of corruption while serving as mayor of Jerusalem and a Cabinet member before he became prime minister in 2006.
The cases include allegations that Mr. Olmert illegally accepted envelopes of cash from an American businessman and double-billed the government for travel expenses. He also is accused of granting preferential treatment to an investment company run by an associate.
Mr. Olmert resigned last year in response to the scandals, but he denied wrongdoing and remained a caretaker prime minister until March of this year.
Israeli prosecutors also filed an indictment Sunday against Mr. Olmert's former bureau chief, Shula Zaken, in connection with the corruption cases.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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