Israeli PM and president face criminal charges

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and president Moshe Katsav are both facing possible criminal charges for separate crimes, officials reported today.

Olmert is facing a corruption inquiry after Israel’s government watchdog presented a draft of a report on a suspect property deal. The case could develop into a criminal investigation.

Meanwhile, a respected lawyer advising Katsav over accusations of rape and sexual assault has quit – the latest turn in a seven-month scandal which has brought calls for his dismissal although he has so far not been charged.

In Olmert’s case the government watchdog investigated complaints about the purchase of a house in a historical Jerusalem neighbourhood. Jerusalem officials have until the end of the month to respond to the report.

The focus of the investigation is the finding that Olmert paid £165,000 less than market value for the property, leading to suspicions of fraud and bribery.

If Olmert were indicted, he would have to resign, but such a development would be many steps down the road. Olmert has denied any wrongdoing in the Jerusalem deal.

Olmert has been dogged by corruption allegations throughout his long political career but has never been convicted.

Meanwhile a statement from Katsav’s office said he and lawyer David Libai, a former justice minister, agreed Libai would no longer represent the president. No reason was given on the decision, made a week ago, before Libai studied the police file on the case. Katsav’s other lawyer, Amir Tzion, will continue.

The statement added: “President Katsav states that the end of his representation by attorney Libai will not weaken his struggle and his determination to expose the truth and prove his innocence,” it said.

Libai’s exit removes the most respected member of Katsav’s defence team. Libai, 72, is respected as a moral force in his profession. After his term as justice minister, he served on many Labour Party committees to study internal and policy issues.

For seven months, Katsav has been at the centre of allegations that he preyed on women who worked for him, threatening to fire them if they didn’t grant him sexual favours. He faces charges of rape, sexual assault and abuse of power.

Israeli daily Haaretz reported on its website that Libai agreed to represent Katsav only over his initial complaint that a woman was trying to blackmail him, while the allegations against the president only emerged later.

Katsav last month took a temporary leave of absence to fight the allegations and has not been living in his official Jerusalem residence.

The 61-year-old president insists he is the innocent victim of a conspiracy and says he won’t quit the largely-ceremonial post unless he is formally indicted. Israel’s attorney general has signalled his intent to file charges but will give Katsav a formal hearing before making a final decision.

Moves are under way in parliament to remove Katsav from office, but sponsors of the initiative are still short of the 90 votes needed in the 120-member house. His seven-year term is due to end in July.