JERUSALEM: Police grilled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for four hours on Thursday in a second interrogation this week over his alleged abuse of influence in the privatisation of a leading national bank.

The inquiry into Bank Leumi’s 2005 sell-off is one of two criminal investigations looming over the 62-year-old premier, who has recently chalked up slightly higher approval ratings following a reported air strike on Syria.

Fraud squad investigators spent the morning and early afternoon at the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem, questioning Olmert over breach of trust in a case in which he denies any wrongdoing. He was interviewed under caution, meaning anything he says can be used against him in court if charged.

“The prime minister was questioned for four hours at his residence today by police officials in the Bank Leumi case,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, adding: “At this moment in time there won’t be further questioning.” Police will examine the material before passing the case over to the attorney general’s office, he said. Officers previously questioned Olmert for five hours on Tuesday.

They suspect that Olmert, then acting finance minister in the government of prime minister Ariel Sharon, tried to steer the sale of Bank Leumi towards his friend, Australian property baron Frank Lowey.—AFP