Former Israeli PM Olmert sentenced to six years in prison for bribery conviction
Ehud Olmert. Judge David Rozen found him guilty of two bribery charges and said he accepted 560,000 shekels from developers. Photograph: David Furst/AFP/Getty ImagesFormer Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to six years in prison for his conviction for accepting bribes in the Holyland corruption case, making him the first Israeli prime minister ever to be sent to jail.
Olmert, 68, had denied wrongdoing in a property deal that took place while he was in his previous post of Jerusalem mayor.
His lawyers were expected to ask the Tel Aviv court that passed sentence to allow Olmert to remain free until the Supreme Court rules on an appeal against his March 31 conviction, a process that could take months.
The veteran politician was acquitted two years ago of most of the major charges brought against him in separate cases involving his links to a US businessman.
Those corruption allegations forced Olmert\’s resignation as prime minister in 2008, and his acquittal had appeared to position him for a possible political comeback.
But in the new corruption trial, Judge David Rozen found Olmert guilty of two bribery charges and said he accepted $144,000 from developers of the Holyland apartment building complex in Jerusalem and $17,000 in a separate property project.
Source: Agencies
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