JERUSALEM - The prosecution in the political appointments case against former prime minister Ehud Olmert is considering indicting him pending the outcome of the pretrial hearing, it was announced on Monday.

Olmert has already been indicted in three other cases - the Talansky, Rishon Tours and Investment Center affairs - after rejecting the pretrial hearings. If he rejects the hearing in this case as well, he will be automatically indicted.


The police investigation into allegations that Olmert made political appointments while serving as minister of industry and trade was the direct outcome of a report published by the state comptroller on August 28, 2006.

According to the findings, Olmert and ministry director-general Ra'anan Dinur appointed Lilach Nehemia to the newly created post of deputy director-general of the authority. Nehemia had been the aide of Olmert's close friend, Avraham Hirchson, who is currently on trial on suspicion of stealing NIS 2.5 million from the National Workers' Federation.

Nehemia, in turn, appointed three new project managers who were members of the Likud central committee. Lindenstrauss wrote that the appointments were made improperly and without giving others a fair chance.