Israeli police: Ex-PM Olmert suspect in bribe case

[April 20, 2010]  JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli police says former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is suspected of taking bribes in a burgeoning Jerusalem corruption case.

The 63-year-old Olmert returned to Israel from Europe early on Thursday amid reports of his involvement in the case. Police confirmed on Thursday he was a suspect, after a court-issued gag order was eased.

Olmert has denied any connection.

Last week, a longtime Olmert associate and five others were arrested in the affair. Police suspect huge sums of money changed hands to promote several real-estate projects, including a large development in Jerusalem that required a radical change in zoning laws. Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem at the time.

He is currently standing trial on separate corruption charges that drove him from office last year.

[Associated Press]

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