The Israel Police Lahav 433 unit recommends indcting former prime minister Ehud Olmert and top lawyer Adv. Navot Tel-Zur on charges of obstructing justice and suborning a witness in the Talansky, Rishon Tours and Holyland affairs.
The investigation began two months ago and found that in the past few years during the investigation of Olmert and Shula Zaken and their trials in the three affairs, Olmert took steps to ensure that Zaken would not testify against him.
The police also suspect that Olmert and Adv. Tel-Zur took action to dissuade Zaken from siging a plea bargain in the Holyland affair, and that Olmert later attempted to influence her court testimony.
It is also suspected that during this period Zaken received benefits from various parties at Olmert's request, in cash and in kind.
Adv. Tel-Zur said in response that he utterly denied the allegations against him and the announcement by the police, and that he was certain that the entire matter would be meticulously examined by the prosecutor's office. He said that the evidence presented in the investigation showed that he had committed no crime, and that he acted on Shula Zaken's behalf in good faith, in a professional manner, and on the basis of humanity and friendship only. "It would therefore be advisable to wait patiently for the District Attorney's decision on the matter," said Tel-Zur.
In the Holyland affair, Olmert was found guilty of taking bribes and sentenced to six months in jail. He was acquitted In the Rishon Tours and Talansky affairs; the appeal against his acquittal to the Supreme Court is still pending.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 29, 2014
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