Police to recommend charging Olmert: media reports

By Joseph Nasr

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police are likely to recommend on Sunday indicting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

A police source declined to comment on what investigators would advise the state prosecution. But he said police would announce their recommendations in the long-running case "within the next few days".

With Olmert committed to resigning after his Kadima party holds a leadership election on September 17, a police recommendation to bring charges against him will have no immediate impact on his tenure and does not guarantee an indictment will be filed.

Newspaper and radio reports said police had completed three of five corruption probes against Olmert and would on Sunday issue their findings to the state prosecution and likely recommend he be put on trial.

Olmert has denied any wrongdoing.

Police believe they have evidence showing that Olmert illegally received money from a U.S. businessman, made duplicate claims for travel expenses and used a former cabinet post to promote a friend's business interests, the media reports said.

Amir Dan, Olmert's media adviser, appeared to be resigned to a police recommendation that charges be brought.

"I don't understand why police have to hold discussions on the case when their conclusions were determined well in advance," Dan told Israeli Army Radio.

Under Israeli law, police must submit their recommendations to the prosecution which then files its own legal opinion to Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz, who is the only one authorized to indict a prime minister.

In 2004, Mazuz, citing insufficient evidence, decided not to indict then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a corruption case despite police and prosecution recommendations to bring charges.

Despite his legal troubles and his promise to step down after the Kadima vote, Olmert has pledged to press ahead with efforts to achieve a peace deal with the Palestinians before U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

Even after resigning, Olmert would stay on as caretaker prime minister until a new coalition government is formed and approved by parliament, a process that could take weeks or months.

Polls show Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as the front-runner in a Kadima race pitting her against Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, a former defence chief.

(Editing by Dominic Evans)