Jerusalem - The key witness in the corruption case against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appeared in court again Wednesday for a fifth day of cross-examination by the premier's legal team over allegations he made in May that Olmert over years accepted tens of thousands of dollars in cash from him.

The 75-year-old Jewish American businessman and fundraiser Morris Talansky sighed as he entered the Jerusalem District Court to face more tough questions from lawyers who are keen to discredit him.

Early on in the proceedings, Talansky, who is central to a police probe into allegations that Olmert may have taken bribes, said, "It's my last day and I'm really agitated by the last five days."

Olmert's legal team has highlighted contradictions in what Talansky told police investigators in May. In many instances, Talansky has claimed not being able to recall details, money transactions or documents related to the transfer of money to Olmert.

Proceedings on Tuesday began with attorney Nevot Tel Tzur for Olmert trying to show how police had "put words" in Talansky's mouth and had tried to mislead and confuse Uri Messer, a former associate of Olmert, allegedly linked to the Talansky-Olmert transactions.

"When you are at interrogation and they say something, in the way they are asking you, you don't know if it is a question, if it is a statement, if they are putting words in your mouth ... it is not a normal conversation," Talansky said.

In earlier cross-examination, Talansky said he had come under immense pressure during police questioning, that investigators had put words in his mouth and had been made to "feel like a criminal."

Tel Tzur also pressed Talansky for details of how he persuaded donors abroad to support Olmert's political career.

In May, Talansky said he gave Olmert at least 150,000 dollars, much of it in cash stuffed in envelopes because he was asked to do so.

The payments were made over a period of 15 years, before Olmert was elected premier in March 2006. During that period he was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister for the hardline Likud party.

Police are investigating whether a quid-pro-quo was expected or given in return for the cash. The premier risks charges ranging from bribe-taking to fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and breaking Israel's party funding law. He has promised to resign if an indictment is filed against him

The cross-examination is part of a a pre-trial hearing, held because Talansky is a foreign resident and prosecutors have said they have no guarantee they will be able to summon him if and when a trial starts.

Olmert's lawyers were on Monday given two additional days - August 31 and September 1 - to cross-examine Talansky, while Israel's state prosecutor said a decision on whether to indict Olmert was expected "very soon." (dpa)