In a blow to the State Prosecutor's Office, The Jerusalem District Court today acquitted former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his former chief-of-staff Shula Zaken of charges in the Rishon Tours and Talansky cases, but convicted them of breach of trust in the Investment Promotion Center case.
Judges Moussia Arad, Jacob Zaben, and Moshe Sobel first outlined the testimony of Morris Talansky. "The trial of the accused was complex and long," said Judge Arad as she read the verdict. "Two events which occurred during the trial delayed it. One was the prosecutors' strike, and the other was the police investigation of the Holyland case."
"After reviewing all the evidence submitted to us, we unanimously decided to acquit the accused of the charges in the Rishon Tours case, on grounds of reasonable doubt. We also acquit the accused in the Talansky case and on indictments the third charge of fraudulent receiving and misleading the State Comptroller. We convicted the accused of breach of trust in the Investment Promotion Center case." Concerning the Rishon Tours case, in which Olmert was accused of receiving double financing for official trips overseas and using the extra money for personal travel, she added, "The evidence submitted to us does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused intended to use the surplus money to finance private trips by Olmert and his family. The evidence does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Olmert was aware of the use made of the money."
In the Investment Promotion Center case, Olmert was accused of corruptly obtaining government financing for businesses in his then capacity as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor. The Talansky case involved campaign finance channeled to Olmert through US businessman Morris (Moshe) Talnasky. Olmert was accused of granting favors in return for the money.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 10, 2012
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