The Petach Tikvah District Court on Monday rejected a second appeal filed on behalf of Uri Messer, the primary suspect in the Holyland investigation. Messer�s remand was extended for a second time, for 5 days, earlier in the week. His legal team appealed the move, albeit without success. The court accepted the state�s contention that his release would permit him to interfere with the ongoing investigation.

There is still a gag order on the case, which appears to involve many [former] officials in Jerusalem City Hall. There is also speculation that despite his adamant statements of denial, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will once again find himself entangled in a high-profile criminal case since the Holyland affair took place during Olmert�s tenure as Jerusalem mayor.

According to a Tuesday report in the daily Yediot Achronot, an aide to Olmert states a �key figure� in the investigation tried to blackmail the former prime minister.

Israel Radio reports Israel Police officials expect additional arrests to be made in the coming days.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)