Shula Zaken, Ehud Olmert's former bureau chief, at the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday, March 31, 2013 (photo credit: Ben Kelmer/Flash90)
Two of former prime minister Ehud Olmert’s lawyers are facing questions over their conduct as a result of new testimony provided to authorities by Olmert’s former bureau chief, Shula Zaken, according to a report on Friday.
Both Olmert and Zaken were convicted this week in a major corruption case involving Jerusalem’s Holyland development.
Zaken claims that the two attorneys, while covertly protecting the interests of her former boss, advised her against taking a plea bargain early in the Holyland case, according to Israel’s Channel 10. They will reportedly be called in for questioning within days.
Earlier Friday, it was revealed that businessman Alfred Akirov, head of the Alrov Group, would also be questioned under caution in relation to Zaken’s new testimony.
Former prime minister Ehud Olmert (C) waits in the Tel Aviv Destrict Court ahead of the reading of the verdict in the Holyland case, Monday, March 31, 2014 (photo credit: AFP/POOL/Dan Balilty)
Zaken reportedly told police on Thursday that in 2013, Akirov employed her for several months — with a monthly salary of NIS 25,000 (some $7,000) — at Olmert’s request. The implication being that Olmert was attempting to keep her quiet with Akirov’s help.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Editionby email and never miss our top stories
Akirov responded Friday that there was nothing untoward in his employment of Zaken as a tourism consultant for several of his hotels in Jerusalem.
The Alrov Group released a statement saying that Zaken was indeed employed, but at the rate of NIS 12,000, and that her employment ended in April, 2013.
Advertisement
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
