It has taken a number of years, but the state is moving ahead with criminal indictments alleged bribery in the Holy Land case. Criminal indictments were handed down in the Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday morning, 10 Teves 5772 against 13 defendants, including former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, former Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky, Shula Zaken and Danny Dankner.

The former prime minister released a statement to the media calling the charges against him ‘scandalous”.

A member of Olmert’s legal team spoke with Israel Radio and he questioned the timing, explaining it is simply inexcusable to announce this indictment today, as the prime minister is fighting on another front, referring to the Rishon Tours trial which is ongoing.

The Olmert official added that Mr. Olmert has stated over and over, that he never accepted bribery funds from anyone and he is confident this will be revealed in the trial. He added that he remains confident that the secret state witness in the case against Olmert and others will prove to be less than a credible witness.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)