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Jerusalem: Israeli police have begun initial checks to decide if there is enough evidence to push for a criminal investigation againt Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the justice ministry said.
Olmert is facing corruption charges related to the sale of Bank Leumi in 2005. He denies any wrongdoing.
"There must be factual evidence beforehand for the attorney-general to be able to decide whether to order police to begin a criminal investigation," said Justice Ministry spokesman Moshe Cohen.
"To reach such a decision, they asked police to conduct preliminary checks," he said. There was no immediate comment from Israeli police.
Israeli media had said Olmert had allegedly promoted the interests of two overseas businessmen in bidding for the bank, whose controlling interest was sold to a US investment group for $540 million.
Israel's State Comptroller, its main government watchdog, told Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz last week that it suspected there was evidence indicating Olmert may have committed a crime, Israeli media reported.
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