Olmert is alleged to have paid bribes to a US businessman [AFP]

Police said on Sunday that they possess enough evidence to charge Ehud Olmert for accepting bribes and breaching public trust.

The move to indict Olmert comes amid allegations that he unlawfully accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from Morris Talansky, a US businessman, before he became prime minister in 2006.

"The investigation found that Talansky transferred to Olmert over the years from 1997 and on, large sums of money in different ways, in cash and illegally," a police statement issued said.

Money 'pocketed'

Olmert is also suspected of invoicing non-governmental organisations and charities several times over for the same overseas trips.

He is allleged to have pocketed the difference or used the money for his own private visits.

The Yad Vashem holocaust memorial organisation is one of the groups alleged to have been double-billed by Olmert, the police statement said.

"In this manner, Olmert received tens of thousands of dollars that were kept for Olmert at the Rishon Tours travel agency and used to fund his private flights and those of his family," the statement said.

The prime minister's initial reaction was: "The police has no authority and the recommendations have no meaning," Channel Two, an Israeli television channel, reported.

Innoncence claimed

Olmert's resignation is due to take effect later this month after his Kadima party holds a leadership contest, from which point it will aim to build a coalition government with Likud, its rival.

The recommendations against Olmert by the Israeli police will now be passed to state prosecutors, who will review the evidence in order to make their own decision on the case.

But the formal decision to indict a prime minister is in the hands of Menahem Mazuz, Israel's attorney-general.

Mazuz is expected to deliver his decision on whether Olmert should be charged within the next few weeks.

Should Olmert be indicted for bribery, he could face a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.

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