Things are not looking too good for former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as Shula Zaken on Monday 10 Marcheshvan began telling of the former senior state official’s need for cash, his private cash that he used to maintain his lifestyle.

Zaken arrived at the Jerusalem District Court to begin giving testimony as a state witness in the Talansky cash envelopes case which was reopened against Olmert. The former prime minister was hopeful the Supreme Court would block the reopening of the case to hear new evidence, but the nation’s highest court did not intervene to block the state prosecutor from moving ahead.

Zaken is already serving her 11-month prison term, part of her plea bargain agreement with the state. She was permitted to leave her prison garb behind and appear in court in her regular civilian attire.

In her opening remarks she explained “I come from prison, where I have been for the past four months, paying for my mistakes of the past. It is not easy for me in prison but I feel that I am paying by debt for the path I chose, walking blindly for decades and following Olmert’s demands. I got up in the morning and went to sleep at night for decades with one goal in mind, to help him to become prime minister. Everything I’ve learned from it, and after seeing what he was doing I did not make up anything”.

She continued, explaining that each time Olmert moved into a new position she tried to break away from him but she was not successful. “I liked him and respected him very much. His needs and desires filled my life” she added.

Channels 2 and 10 News released recordings that are damaging to the former prime minister. The recordings point to the fact that Olmert made use of funds that were deposited in the safe of attorney Uri Messer for his own personal use and then pressured Zaken not to cooperate with police, not to testify against him and not to give over the journal she had that could incriminate him. As a result of Zaken’s cooperation, Olmert was acquitted in that case in 2012 but the case is now being reopened after Zaken decided to come forward and make a deal.

Olmert insists he never applied pressure on Zaken not to testify but simply advised her for her own good, not his. He also insists any money spent was not for his own personal use as alleged.

Zaken maintains the money in Messer’s safe was used by Olmert to buy cigars and suits, to serve his own private agenda.

Channel 2 News releases the recording as well, speaking about Olmert telling Zaken he needs 125,000; expressing fears she will testify.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)