Tel Aviv (dpa) - Israeli police are recommending indicting senior
officials, including a former top aide of Premier Ehud Olmert, on
suspicion of receiving bribes to award tax breaks and appoint people
to positions within the Tax Authority, Israeli media reported Monday.
The possible indictment caps a months-long investigation into
Shula Zaken, Olmert's former bureau chief, Israel Tax Authority
Director Jacky Matza, and about 20 other senior officials and
businessmen.
Tax Authority appointments - including that of Matza himself -
had been influenced by powerful businessmen.
Zaken was Olmert's secretary when he served as finance minister
the beleaguered premier faces probes on several other fronts,
including allegations that when serving as finance minister in a
previous government he had changed the conditions for the
privatization of a bank to favour of business friends.
Since taking office last year, Olmert's government has been hit by
a slew of scandals
