Police to question Israeli PM over Bank Leumi privatization

GAZA, Oct 7 — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be questioned by police on Tuesday over suspicions that he altered a government tender for the privatization of Bank Leumi “to favor a bid lodged by a consortium controlled by his American friends,” an Israeli newspaper said Sunday.
On its website, Yedioth Ahronoth noted that the suspicions surfaced in 2005 when Olmert served as acting finance minister.
“Olmert is suspected of having sought to advance a bid for the controlling share of the bank filed by Frank Louie and Daniel Abrams,” according to the newspaper.
It added that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered the police to probe Olmert’s conduct during the bank’s privatization.
Last month, Mazuz ordered the police to launch an investigation into Olmert’s purchase of a house in Jerusalem for a discount price, it added.
“Investigators will try to determine whether Olmert bought the house for over USD 300,000 cheaper than its market value in return for granting contractors illegal work permits during his time as the mayor of Jerusalem,” it said.