Comptroller probing sale of Olmert's Jerusalem home to offshore company

[IndianaGreen]

Last update - 00:50 22/02/2006

Comptroller probing sale of Olmert's Jerusalem home to offshore company

By Uri Blau, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters

State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss is looking into the 2004 sale of Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's house in Jerusalem to an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands. His lawyers told Haaretz that the man behind this company is the American billionaire Daniel Abrams, who has made contributions in the past to Olmert and other
politicians.

The State Comptroller launched the probe following questions submitted by Haaretz last Thursday.

The comptroller also plans to look into Olmert's ties to Abrams, who contributed NIS 193,000 to Olmert ahead of Olmert's campaign in the Jerusalem mayoral elections. Lindenstrauss is already investigating a $120,000 contribution from Abrams in 2004 to Shimon Peres' campaign for the Labor Party primaries last November.

Olmert has denied any wrongdoing. A statement issued by his office said that Olmert had made a full disclosure of the sale to the state comptroller's office 18 months ago. Olmert did report the sale to the state comptroller, but failed to inform him that the company which purchased the house belonged to Abrams.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/685607.html

[Tom Joad]

1. Shocked! I am absolutely shocked that they can even imagine corruption

in the leaders of the Israeli government.

I am sure that this will be investigated throughly, and that US aid will be withheld if the new leader of Israel is also found to be violating the law.

:sarcasm:

[IndianaGreen]

3. I like Ehud Olmert and I hope his party wins the election, but...

unlike the US, Israel is a vibrant democracy and has an independent judiciary. One of Sharon's sons is in jail for taking illegal contributions from foreign sources. If Olmert did anything illegal, he will be prosecuted even if he is Prime Minister. I don't see the same thing happening over this country.

As to corruption in general, money and corruption have always played a role in politics throughout the world.

[Tom Joad]

4. There are many US officials in jail, too.

I don't understand why you call Israel a "vibrant democracy" and the US is not?

[SoCalDem]

2. Was Duke Cunningham advising him?

:)