Olmert corruption report delayed for elections?

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Courtesy Haaretz)

JERUSALEM – Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is being investigated by state officials on multiple charges of corruption and illegal appointments, but a report on the matter is being delayed until after next week's elections in which Olmert is running for top office.

A source close to the report told WorldNetDaily today the investigation into Olmert could "easily" have been released weeks ago "if the state wanted." If eventually indicted, Olmert would need to vacate his government position.

Opposition parties charge the delay in releasing the report is political.

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"The issue here is regarding a candidate for prime minister. The public needs to know who he is before the elections," said a spokesman for the Likud party, headed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss is investigating political appointments made by Olmert while he served as minister of Industry and Trade under Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's administration. Olmert was minister from 2003 until 2005. He served as mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003, and now leads the Kadima party following Sharon's stroke in January.

Charges were filed with Lindenstrauss's office following complaints by ministry employees in 2004 alleging Olmert appointed outsiders to top level positions in exchange for support and political favors. Employees also claimed at the time Olmert directed funds and ministry tenders at new appointees at the expense of loyal long-time workers.

A source close to Lindenstrauss's office told WND the report is near completion and could have been ready weeks ago.

"It's essentially done, but suddenly the final touches are being slowed. It could be released within days if they wanted. Actually, there is more than enough information. It could have already been released if the motivation was there," said a source close to the comptroller.

The source said a current draft of the report slams Olmert for allegedly abusing office powers and using the ministry's director general – an Olmert appointee – to make unwarranted appointments. It questions the utility of several appointments.

Once the comptrollers report is released, Israel's attorney general would be asked whether to formally bring charges against Olmert.

The comptroller's office claims they need several more weeks to complete the report. National elections are next Tuesday.

Olmert is not the only official tied to Kadima to be investigated for corruption and questionable appointments. Several Kadima members have come under repeated fire for alleged misconduct.

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One investigation ties Olmert to other instances of corruption and possible bribery. The state was asked to investigate Sharon's son and former Knesset member Omri Sharon following a recent television report airing excerpts from his diary concerning a large number of political appointments allegedly aimed at shoring up support for his father while he was prime minister.

The diary allegedly listed a series of politicians whose support Ariel Sharon needed for various votes and legislation. The diary excerpts detailed the methods used by Omri Sharon to arrange appointments and in some cases revealed close ties between the appointments and Olmert.

One section of the diary dates from August 2004, when Sharon's party, then-Likud, was due to vote on the prime minister's move to bring the opposition Labor party into the government. Omri Sharon listed in his journal several committee members whose support was crucial for the vote and reportedly made notes on the steps needed to win their votes.

He allegedly wrote he needed to find "a directorship for [Likud member] Shlomo Ben Amra" and determine whether a similar appointment for Likud member Rahamim Eden "has already been signed."

According to the television report, Eden was indeed appointed to the board of a government agency shortly after Omri Sharon's diary entry.

Omri Sharon in the diary also reminded himself to "meet with Ehud [Olmert] about Yigal Yosef," as well as with a top Olmert advisor on the same subject.

Yosef eventually was given a top job in Olmert's Industry Ministry.

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