State Prosecutor Moshe Lador is involved in discussion with legal experts and senior Israel Police commanders surrounding the possibility of detaining, questioning and arresting former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Holyland investigation. Some also believe that if they move ahead with this process as expected, the former prime minister will be remanded as was the case with other suspects in the case, Yoav Yitzchak of News-1 reports.

If the decision to arrest Olmert is made, this may occur as early as this week, indicating police are ready for such a move. Israel Radio’s Reshet Bet adds that this may also be contingent on the information received [or alternatively not received] from Shula Zaken, Olmert’s former bureau chief and personal confidant who was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon at Ben-Gurion International Airport, upon her return from Los Angeles.

One must understand that arresting the prime minister would not only be a precedent, but it demands special security arrangements. The former PM is constantly in the presence of Shin Bet agents, and police acting to confine him would first have to consult with the security agency and special accommodations would have to be made.

It has also been learned that the arrest warrant against Zaken was signed in the beginning of the case, when the early arrests were made, and some speculate that another warrant remains in the drawer of a high-ranking official with Olmert’s name on it.

News-1 adds that Olmert understands he is already under travel restrictions, instructed not to plan any immediate trips abroad for meetings or speaking engagements.

Experts point out that the outcome of the case is a long time in the future, but explain that police have been working on the investigation for a year before arrests began, and the best of the department’s personnel are involved in all aspects of the high-profile case. They point out that all details were discussed and weighed in advance, even the order in which suspects are taken into custody, seeking to build the case on subsequent suspects as additional information is gathered and existing information is confirmed.

In addition, there is a growing sentiment that this case will open other corruption cases as well, among them the Jerusalem light rail project.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)