Special to WorldTribune.com

JERUSALEM — Israel has launched an investigation into allegations that a former defense minister accepted bribes for arms deals.

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has ordered a police investigation into allegations that former Defense Minister Ehud Barak accepted bribes for foreign weapons contracts. The probe stemmed from accusations by former Prime Minister

Ehud Olmert that Barak received tens of millions of shekels.

“He took a bribe of millions and tens of millions,” Olmert was recorded as telling his then-secretary Shula Zaken. “That insane man, he will end up in prison.”

Officials said police would question Olmert regarding the recording on Barak. The former prime minister, himself has been convicted of accepting bribes.

The recorded conversation between Olmert and Ms. Zaken took place in the summer of 2011. Olmert, who quoted the former head of the Mossad, was heard saying that Barak concealed the alleged bribe in either Switzerland or with his attorney.

“He transfers it to a company in which Barak’s name does not appear,” Olmert said.

Barak has denied the allegations. The former defense minister, who spent much of the last year working in Africa, said Olmert’s accusations have not been corroborated by anybody.

“This is a completely baseless lie being spread for years by a criminal, who has since been convicted, out of interests any intelligent person can understand,” Barak said in a statement.

  Israel investigates bribery charge against former defense minister Barak, WorldTribune.com