Ehud Olmert pleads not guilty to charges

JERUSALEM, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pleaded not guilty Monday in court to a host of charges, including fraud, tax evasion and breach of trust.

Olmert entered his pleas at the Jerusalem District Court to charges stemming from several scandals that tainted his administration, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Olmert's former office manager Shula Zaken pleaded not guilty for her alleged participation in two of the four investigations covered by the indictment.

The indictment was for four separate investigations: Rishon Tours, in which Olmert allegedly overcharged Israel for travel and used Rishon Tours for state travel illegally, among other things; Olmert's relations with his close friend, attorney Uri Messer, and U.S. financial backer Moshe Talansky, allegedly involving cash payments for intervention; allegedly providing false information and deceiving Israel's Comptroller's Office; and for Zaken's alleged wiretapping of Olmert's conversations.

Olmert's lawyer, Eli Zohar, said, "I would like to take the opportunity of this day to make a comprehensive denial of all the allegations made against Olmert in the indictment," Ynetnews.com reported.

In the indictment, prosecutors said Olmert and Zaken "maliciously abused Olmert's lofty public status and position for continual and systematic activities to gain financial benefits for Olmert."