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Last update - 06:15 16/05/2008 Olmert petitions High Court against Talansky deposition By Ofra Edelman and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Ehud Olmert, corruption  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his former office manager, Shula Zaken, petitioned the High Court of Justice on Thursday against the prosecution's decision to have a court depose American fundraiser Moshe Morris Talansky. The petition will be heard on Monday by a panel of three justices. Attorneys for Olmert wrote, "Were it not a case involving the prime minister, the prosecution would not have considered seeking a deposition from Mr. Talanksy." Since it is not even clear what crimes their client is suspected of, they argued, there are no grounds for asking the court to hear testimony from Talansky now, and doing so would undermine Olmert's ability to cross-examine the witness effectively. The premier's attorneys also accused the prosecution of speaking out of both sides of its mouth regarding Talansky: "Talansky is presented as a suspect who may be indicted for the offenses about which he is being asked to testify. However, despite his status as a suspect, no legal steps are being taken against Talansky to restrict his movements and ensure he appears before an Israeli court if and when a decision is made to try him." Advertisement The attorneys said the prosecution promised to allow Talansky to leave the country on or about May 21 without demanding any guarantees that he would return should an indictment be filed. On April 29, they continued, Talansky was questioned and released under restrictions after he posted bail, but only on May 5, the day after the request to depose him was submitted to the court, was an injunction issued to prevent him from leaving the country. The lawyers argued that this can be explained in only two ways: either Talansky is not really suspected of crimes, but was labeled a suspect so that the prosecution could prevent him from leaving the country; or he is indeed a suspect, but the prosecution feels the existing restrictions are sufficient to ensure his return should he be indicted. But in the latter case, they continued, "how can it be that in order to justify the request for a deposition, Talansky was presented to the district court as a person whose prior testimony was necessary because he was likely to refuse to return to Israel to testify, and yet, as a suspect, the prosecution feels no fear that he would not return to Israel to stand trial?!" Meanwhile, police sources said Talansky's deposition is liable to undermine the investigation, because Olmert's lawyers would have to be given the accumulated evidence in order to prepare their cross-examination, and that would help them determine what Olmert should say to avoid incriminating himself. The police are therefore expected to question Olmert again before the deposition. Driver: I personally gave Olmert envelopes of cash Avi Sherman, a limousine driver who drove Olmert during his tenure as mayor of Jerusalem, testified to police on Thursday that he personally gave Olmert envelopes stuffed with cash from several businessmen, among them Talansky and Abraham. Channel 2 on Thursday aired excerpts from Sherman's testimony. "When Olmert would arrive in New York," Sherman is heard saying in one of the excerpts, "he would coordinate his trip with Shula Zaken, and I would go to the offices of the non-profit organization raising funds for Sha'arei Tzedek ? which was headed by Talansky ? and I would collect an envelope from his secretary. The envelope was full of cash dollars. Then I would go to the Regency Hotel and give the envelope to Ehud personally, in his hand." Sherman also testified that he gave Olmert funds from Abraham, who denied any connection to the money. Sherman said that the money was hidden in packages of the diet drink "Slim Fast," which is a product manufactured by Abraham's company. Sherman was questioned by the National Fraud Investigations Unit several months ago, before the investigation into Olmert's conduct was launched. However, after Talansky testified some two weeks ago, Sherman was summoned to testify for a second time. Police sources said they were not convinced of Sherman's credibility. According to the sources, the investigators tried to corroborate his testimony this week, but it is not clear whether they will be able to rely on it. Several days ago, the police confronted Abraham with Sherman. Abraham vehemently denied Sherman's allegations, and denied even knowing who Sherman was. Bookmark to del.icio.us   From hunted to hunter Jerusalem camera catches brutal attack by Jewish teens on Arab youths. The will to power Palestinian governments violate human rights in quest for control.   1.   Juicy driver testifies 23:00  |  Mark B. 15/05/08   2.   Out of a job 23:04  |  David 15/05/08   3.   Enough Already Olmert Must Be Made To Quit 23:04  |  Shepherd 15/05/08   4.   Avarice is a disease that should be liquidated 23:05  |  Kills a Nation 15/05/08   5.   Getting tired of this ever-present cab-driver... 23:22  |  Esther 15/05/08   6.   envelopes stuffed with cash 23:48  |  Ralph 15/05/08   7.   and now, the limo driver.... 23:52  |  Smadar 15/05/08   8.   I Don`t Believe One Word of It 23:54  |  Jane 15/05/08   9.   Overpaid Chaufeur 00:07  |  K 16/05/08   10.   Overpaid chaufeur 00:08  |  K 16/05/08   11.   Too many holes 00:15  |  Joseph 16/05/08   12.   Drivers and cash filled envelopes..? 00:31  |  Stephen. 16/05/08   13.   To Esther 01:26  |  Mark B. 16/05/08   14.   I`d like to make it clear 01:27  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/05/08   15.   What is AG Mazuz waiting for? 02:34  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 16/05/08   16.   The Question left is if Olmert gave anybody anything ?Yes 02:43  |  Sal 16/05/08   17.   Clearly, the corrupt defeatist Olmert Government must go. 03:50  |  ROB SCHWARTZ 16/05/08   18.   Way to go! 04:00  |  JT 16/05/08   19.   Goodbye, PM Olmert 05:13  |  Jeff Northridge 16/05/08   20.   More Proof of Olmerts Guilt Olmert The Crook Needs To Resign Now 06:30  |  Dish It Out 16/05/08   21.   OLMERT - WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? 07:03  |  * BEN JABO 16/05/08   22.   He`s still innocent 07:50  |  Tali 16/05/08   23.   Israelies Must Love Self-Degradation 07:55  |  Tod Zuckerman 16/05/08   24.   To # 5 Rabbi Yacov Lazarous - Monies flying around now 08:27  |  Dolly 16/05/08   25.   It is catchy to be a Millionaire..... 08:35  |  Natasha 16/05/08   26.   Re Mark #3 09:04  |  Esther 16/05/08   27.   ENOUGH! Olmert is NOT the choice if the people 10:01  |  Dagma 16/05/08   28.   ENOUGH! Olmert must go! he is not the peoples`choice 10:09  |  charlie 16/05/08   29.   Sets one thinking... 10:12  |  Esther 16/05/08   30.   what ever happened to kasav? 11:09  |  dont ask 16/05/08   31.   To Shepherf # 1 - The Absolute Truth,,,,, 11:42  |  Dagma 16/05/08   32.   # 20. Esther you have the plot..now elaborate. 11:43  |  Stephen. 16/05/08   33.   What`s the bet - Olmert WILL NOT GET OUT..... 11:53  |  charlie 16/05/08   34.   Olmert admitted taking envelopes with cash 17:23  |  Asylum Aleikum 18/05/08   35.   Too Much To Ask? 00:30  |  Nite Owl 28/05/08

Read & React Israel's wrong to ban Finkelstein, while allowing in Kahanists Responses: 216 Talansky: Olmert got $150,000 from me, introduced me to tycoons Responses: 63 VIDEO: Jerusalem camera catches attack by Jewish teens on Arab youths Responses: 117 Barack Obama: I wouldn't promise Ahmadinejad a meeting Responses: 77 Rosner's Domain The story of Obama and the 'A' word Rosner's Guest: U.S. should enforce policies on Israel Obama's uncle did not liberate Auschwitz (WTR) Explaining Hagee's Holocaust remarks Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? More Headlines 01:44 Barak mulls ultimatum to PM, may demand resignation or early elections 02:28 Jurists: Conviction still a long shot 00:26 Sources: Hezbollah to give Israel report on efforts to find Ron Arad 02:24 The good life, Olmert-style 01:09 Assad: Lebanon should talk with Israel if negotiations progress 01:11 Was William Shakespeare a Jewish woman in disguise? 22:19 Rights monitor: W. Bank, Gaza governments violate human rights in quest for control 21:19 ANALYSIS: Talansky testimony paints portrait of Olmert the hedonist 19:47 VIDEO: Jerusalem camera catches brutal attack by Jewish teens on Arab youths 19:27 Jewish group slams German award for ex-Nazi doctor 17:43 10-year-old Afula boy suspected of extorting classmates 17:30 Border Police hurt 16 activists near Na'alin separation fence Previous Editions Select Day 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may

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