Key Witness: Ehud Olmert Received Money in Envelopes!!!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 09:42AM 
A US businessman at the centre of a political corruption probe has admitted in court that he gave cash-filled envelopes to Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister of Israel, but denies that he expected any favours in return.
Morris Talansky, 75, a New York-based fundraiser, told a Jerusalem court that he had handed Mr Olmert sums ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 over a number of years before Mr Olmert's appointment as Prime Minister in 2006.
"I didn't expect anything from the Prime Minister and I didn't receive anything," Mr Talansky was quoted by Israeli reporters as telling the court.
Mr Olmert is under investigation by Israeli police for allegedly accepting up to $500,000 (£250,000) in illegal contributions or bribes before taking office. He denies any wrongdoing.
The Prime Minister, whose appeal to prevent Mr Talansky giving preliminary evidence was rejected by Israel's Supreme Court last week, confirmed that he had received campaign contributions from Mr Talansky for Jerusalem's 1993 and 1998 mayoral elections and for his Likud Party's internal elections in 1999 and 2002.
Reader Comments