Israeli Police's Intelligence and Investigations Unit is likely to announce on Sunday that it has amassed sufficient evidence to indict Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, local daily Ha'aretz reported Thursday.
The head of the police's intelligence and investigations unit, Major General Yohanan Danino, is expected to convene his staff on Thursday for a marathon perusal of the material that has thus far been gathered against Olmert, who is embroiled in a legal battle over corruption and graft suspicions, Ha'aretz said.
On Sunday, police officials will once again examine whether more evidence is needed. If police reach the conclusion that they have exhausted all possible leads, they will then formulate a recommendation which will be passed onto state prosecutors.
According to local daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Danino and his staff are expected to debate three cases, including the Talansky Affair, in which the prime minister is suspected of receiving illicit funds from Jewish American businessman Morris Talansky.
The other two cases are the so-called "Olmertours," in which he is suspected of receiving illicit benefits from non-profit groups which funded his trips abroad, and the Investment Center scandal, in which he is suspected of improprieties that took place during hit term as industry, trade and labor minister.
"This is a game whose results are known from the beginning," said Amir Dan, a media advisor to the prime minister. "From the first day, even before these matters were investigated, the police came out with statements to the effect that it was committed from the start to recommending an indictment."
Olmert was questioned by police under caution for two and a half hours at his Jerusalem residence last Friday, his seventh interrogation since the Talansky Affair went public in May.
Olmert denies any wrongdoing in any of the cases, all tracing back to the period before he became prime minister in 2006.
Embroiled in the series of probes, Olmert announced late July that he would resign as soon as a new leader of his ruling Kadima party is elected. He has also said that he would step down if indicted.
Source:Xinhua
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