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From left: Attorney Uri Messer (Daniel Bar-On / Jini) and Morris Talansky (Oriah Tadmor) Last update - 07:47 24/05/2008 Olmert questioned for second time; Talansky to testify Tuesday By Jonathan Lis and Ofra Edelman Tags: Uri Messer, Morris Talansky  The Jerusalem District Court ruled on Friday that the central witness in the investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, American businessman Morris Talansky, must begin testifying on Tuesday. The ruling, which was made in response to a request by Olmert's attorneys to delay the deposition by two weeks, came as the prime minister was being questioned under caution for a second time at his Jerusalem residence. Initially, Talansky was scheduled to begin his deposition on Sunday, but Olmert's lawyers had requested additional time to study the investigative material. Advertisement An injunction barring Talansky from leaving the country was to expire at 11 P.M. this coming Monday, and Talansky wants to return to the United States immediately thereafter. He had said that he would be willing to return to Israel in two weeks should the court choose to postpone his deposition, but the prosecution feared that he might refuse to return, and therefore wanted him to testify before he leaves. While the court reject Olmert's request to delay the deposition by two weeks, it did rule that the attorney's representing Olmert and his former bureau chief Shula Zaken may consider cross examaning Talansky on the date of his deposition. The court also ruled that Talansky must testify for as many days as necessary. Olmert questioning focuses on Messer testimony Olmert was questioned under caution by police investigators on Friday morning, with the focus of the interrogation being the potentially incriminating testimony given by his long-time friend and former partner, attorney Uri Messer. Police believe that Friday's session, which lasted for about an hour, could prove "decisive" in establishing the premier's guilt or innocence. After the questioning, investigators met with Major General Yohanan Danino, head of police investigations and intelligence for consultation. Olmert is suspected of having received large sums of money over the course of several years from Talansky, an American fund-raiser. Police believe that Messer served as Olmert's "banker," storing the money the premier received from Talansky in a safe in his office. According to sources involved in the investigation, Messer gave the police both documents and oral testimony that strengthen their suspicions that most of the money Olmert received from Talansky did not, as the premier has claimed, go to covering debts incurred during his election campaigns for mayor of Jerusalem, but was rather earmarked for his personal use. This is the second time in two weeks that Fraud Squad investigators have questioned the premier. However, much new evidence has accumulated since Olmert's last interrogation, including Messer's testimony. Messer was questioned again for several hours Thursday, in part as preparation for Olmert's questioning Friday. At Friday's session, interrogators were expected to confront Olmert with additional testimony obtained from Talansky over the last few days. In addition, they were to press him on a weak spot in his previous testimony. At that time, he told the police that his former bureau chief, Shula Zaken, could give them a full explanation of the financial transactions between himself and Talansky, since she kept minutes of all his meetings with Talansky and recorded all the fund transfers. But Zaken has steadfastly refused to talk, meaning that whatever exculpatory details Olmert thought she might provide remain unknown to the police. Friday's interrogation was only expected to last for about an hour - a relatively short time for a case of this nature. However, it seems likely that Olmert will be questioned a third time once police have finished taking testimony from other witnesses. The reason Olmert was being interrogated Friday, despite the fact that other witnesses remain to be questioned, is because police want to "lock him in" to his story before Talansky's scheduled deposition to the Jerusalem District Court. By law, Olmert's lawyers must be given all the evidence gathered to date before the deposition, so that they can effectively cross-examine Talansky during the hearing. But police fear that seeing this material and hearing Talansky's testimony, which will be given in open court will enable Olmert to tailor his story to what they already know while concealing what they do not know. For this reason, they prefer to get his version before he sees the material. Over the last two days, prosecutors have given Olmert's lawyers 22 binders full of material, and that does not include either Messer's testimony or the latest testimony by Talansky, which was to be handed handed over only following the premier's interrogation on Friday morning. Related articles: Sources: Not enough evidence to indict Olmert for bribery ANALYSIS: What will come first, peace treaty or indictment? Ex-Olmert aide recorded money transfers between PM, Messer Bookmark to del.icio.us   Jet error Israeli warplanes come close to shooting down Tony Blair's plane. Rehab (live) Report: Singer Amy Winehouse is to undergo drug rehab in Israel.   1.   Bottom Line Is Olmert Received Illicit Funds,& Must Resign NOW 04:16  |  Shepherd 23/05/08   2.   Israel Must become a nation like all others 05:02  |  Ehud Dayan 23/05/08   3.   A crook is a crook 05:42  |  Denise 23/05/08   4.   BIG RABBIS CALL TO OUSTER OLMERT 11:43  |  The Threadmill 23/05/08   5.   Just think what you do of him 12:43  |  Keops 23/05/08   6.   I have to admit... 14:05  |  Buzaglow 23/05/08   7.   2 and 2 make millions 15:29  |  David 23/05/08   8.   Still innocent 16:22  |  Tali 23/05/08   9.   Buzaglow he is putting our nation at risk, just to save his skin 16:54  |  Simon 23/05/08   10.   Olmert is a devil, and devils never fail to escape the net. 04:20  |  Sven Örebro 25/05/08   11.   Wh don`t we prostest but sleep then, Simon # 9 ? 04:25  |  Sven Örebro 25/05/08   12.   On of THE BEST OP ED`s I have read at Haaretz. Bravo ! 04:33  |  Fortuna Benmayor 25/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: The Palestinians' time is running out Responses: 432 West backs Lebanese gov't capitulation to Hezbollah Responses: 201 Obama promises 'unshakable commitment' to Israel if elected Responses: 223 Hamas: Olmert too weak to negotiate peace agreement with Syria Responses: 213 McCain rejects pastor's support after 'God sent Hitler' jibe Responses: 121 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guests: can "decisive victory" against guerilla achieved? Blame the Israel Lobby for Clinton's loss? (WTR) Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? Should American Jews Embrace Living Double Lives? Why Obama needs Florida Jews? (WTR) More Headlines 03:05 Law enforcement source: Olmert's indictment is just a matter of time 01:48 Syria sends minister to Iran after shock revelation of Israel talks 02:46 ANALYSIS: Can Syria break its Iranian bear hug? 01:06 Israel denies entry to high-profile critic Norman Finkelstein 02:53 ANALYSIS / Olmert's last police interview was tailormade for him 03:00 Spanish doctors, Israeli reality 02:07 Israel places 9th in 2008 Eurovision Song Contest; Russia wins 01:16 Israeli warplanes almost shoot down Tony Blair's plane 03:38 Report: Singer Amy Winehouse to undergo drug rehab in Israel 14:56 Tourist in critical condition after jumping from Tiberias hospital 02:11 'Israeli Big Lebowski' captures top student prize at Cannes Previous Editions Select Day 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may

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