The 61-page charge sheet lays out accusations of fraud, breach of trust and failure to report income, according to a statement released by the justice ministry. Mr Olmert, who is the first former Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges, has denied any wrongdoing in any of the cases against him. The charges relate to periods when Mr Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister, but before he became prime minister in 2006. In the first case, Mr Olmert is accused of accepting envelopes stuffed with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from an American businessman. He admits taking money, but insists that the donations were legal contributions to his campaigns for re-election as mayor of Jerusalem and for the leadership of Likud, his former party. In the second case, he is accused of double-billing for trips abroad. In what has been dubbed the "Rishon Tours" scandal, a reference to the travel agency Mr Olmert used, the ex-premier was accused of first double-billing charities and a government ministry and then sending them doctored travel expenses and receipts. According to the charges, he would then use any extra funds to help fund trips abroad for himself or his family. In the third case, he is alleged to have granted personal favours to Uri Messer, his former law partner, when he was trade minister. Dogged by various corruption scandals including investigations into several affairs he was not indicted on, Mr Olmert decided to stand down last year. In elections held last February he was succeeded by Benjamin Netanyahu. Shula Zaken, Mr Olmert's former office manager, has been indicted along with him.Ehud Olmert indicted on three corruption charges in Israel
Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli prime minister, was indicted on sweeping corruption charges on Sunday.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
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