By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli police on Sunday morning began searches in several locations for evidence in current corruption investigations against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told Xinhua that the searches were aimed at seizing evidence for several financial investigations including cases related to the prime minister.
Rosenfeld said more than 100 investigators from the National Fraud Investigation Unit spread out in over 20 different locations around Israel, including government buildings, public buildings, and private offices.
The sites being searched including the Industry and Trade Ministry, Israel Lands Administration buildings, Postal Authority offices and the Jerusalem City Hall, said the spokesman.
Investigators are searching for documents related to the probes involving Olmert’s purchase of his Jerusalem house, and alleged political appointments by Olmert via the Small Business Authority and the Industry and Trade Ministry.
Rosenfeld said the searches began hours earlier on Sunday morning and were still going on, during which police have confiscated some materials and equipment related to the investigations.
Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz last month ordered the third concurrent investigation into Olmert on suspicion that he granted improper political favors while serving as the industry and trade minister between 2003 and 2005.
Olmert is suspected of buying a Jerusalem house from a real estate developer at a substantial discount in return for helping the builder obtain construction permits from Jerusalem authorities.
In another case, the prime minister was questioned by police twice over suspicions that he tried to rig the sale of Israel’s second-largest bank, Leumi, in favor of two associates during his tenure as the finance minister.