The Talansky cash envelopes case against former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opened on Tuesday 7 Elul in the Jerusalem District Court. Mr. Olmert was acquitted in his trial but in a rare move, the Supreme Court permitted the state to reopen the case after Shula Zaken agreed to become a state witness.

Zaken remained silent during the first trial, loyal to her former employee of decades. Zaken was Olmert’s personal confidant and ran his bureau in a number of political, posts including Jerusalem mayor, cabinet minister and of course, prime minister. Olmert however was less loyal towards her and his attorneys did not hesitate to place the blame for much of the illegal activity he is accused of on Mrs. Zaken.

Mr. Olmert was not present for the first day of the new Talansky cash envelopes bribery case against him. Mrs. Zaken is scheduled to give her testimony to the court sometime in November.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)