Jerusalem- Israeli fraud squad detectives questioned caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Friday for the ninth time in recent weeks regarding corruption affairs in which the premier is suspected of being involved.

Israeli media reported that the two-hour session at Olmert's Jerusalem residence focused on allegations that he double-, and even triple-, billed sponsors for overseas visits, and used the extra money to pay for trips for his family.

Police have already recommended that the prime minister be indicted for the affair, and Olmert's media advisor on Friday lashed out at the investigators, saying that rather than admit they had "toppled a prime minister" on the basis of only "partial evidence," police were trying to cover up their failures by pretending they were just completing their inquiry.

Previous rounds of questioning of the premier have concentrated on suspicions that as trade and industry minister, Olmert pushed for favourable responses to be given to grant applications submitted to the ministry's investment centre by clients of his former law partner.

He has also been questioned on allegations that he bought a house in an upscale Jerusalem neighbourhood for far below the market price in return for helping the building contractor receive construction permits form the Jerusalem authorities.

Olmert is also under investigation following accusations that that in the years before he became prime minister he received hundreds of thousands of dollars, most of it via envelopes full of cash, from US-Jewish fundraiser Morris Talansky, and made unlawful political appointments at the Small and Medium Business Authority.

Police have recommended he be indicted on the Talansky and on the double-billing accusations.

The premier has denied all the accusations against him, and although he admitted receiving funds via Talansky in what has become known as "the money envelopes" affair, denies the sums mentioned, and insists it was legitimate reimbursements for food and accommodation.

But the ongoing investigations nonetheless further eroded the premier's already low popularity and in September he tendered his resignation to President Shimon Peres, days after his Kadima party elected Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as the new party head.

He will however remain as interim prime minister until a new government is formed after elections scheduled for February 10 next year. (dpa)