American-Jewish businessman Morris Talansky told the Jerusalem District Court Tuesday that he gave Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert 150,000 dollars out of his own pocket, speculating that some of the money went to fund Olmert's fondness for fine hotels, first-class flights and luxury goods.
Talansky gave the testimony as a key witness for the prosecution in the investigation into allegations that Olmert accepted illegal payments from the U.S. financier.
Talansky told the court that most of the money he turned over at meetings in New York and Jerusalem was to cover Olmert's political activities over a 15-year period, but Olmert's assistant Shula Zaken would often ask for cash to cover unidentified personal expenses.
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem May 25, 2008. Talansky specifically mentioned that he met Olmert 10 times between 2002 and 2005, while Olmert was industry, trade and labor minister, and on each occasion, gave him envelopes of cash.
Talansky stressed, however, that he did not do it for personal gain.
"I had a very close relationship with him (Olmert) for over 16 years. The relationship was one of great admiration. I never expected anything from him and never received anything from him whatsoever," local daily Jerusalem Post quoted Talansky as saying.
Talansky said that as well as the money he gave Olmert out of his own pocket, he also raised at least 100,000 dollars for Olmert on behalf of various organizations.
"There was nothing personal about it. It never crossed my mind that it was for my benefit, I didn't need it and to get anything in return would have been blasphemy," continued Talanksy.
He did say that Olmert volunteered to contact three billionaires to try to drum up business for a hotel minibar venture run by him, noting that it never worked out.
Talansky told the court there were no records of how that money was spent, adding that he only knew Olmert loved expensive cigars, pens and watches.
The testimony was a trial procedure, though the state has not yet decided whether to indict Olmert or Zaken.
State Attorney Moshe Lador, who put the questions to Talansky on behalf of the state, has stressed that the fact that a trial procedure was taking place does not indicate in any way that the state has decided to prosecute the prime minister or Zaken.
A second court session, in which Olmert's attorneys would cross-examine Talansky, was set for July 17. Talansky promised to come back for that purpose.
Olmert was grilled again by police in the latest investigation against him on Friday. The about one-hour questioning session, the second since the bribery scandal went public earlier this month, was conducted in Olmert's residence in Jerusalem, on which the prime minister and the police have not made public comments.
Olmert, who has acknowledged receiving moneys from Talansky but claimed the funds were used for election campaigns, denies any wrongdoing in the case and has said he would resign if indicted.
The investigation is the fifth into Olmert's conduct since he became prime minister two years ago. No charges have been filed and one of the cases has been closed.
Source:Xinhua
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