30 dec 2015
The Israeli Supreme Court, on Tuesday, reduced the sentence of ex-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert from six years to 18 months, with regard to his conviction for bribery scandal.
According to AP/PNN, the court announced that Olmert will begin serving his sentence on Feb. 15 -- the first Israeli leader to ever serve behind bars. Though the ruling marked a legal victory for Olmert’s team, the top court upheld part of his conviction for taking a lesser bribe.
Olmert, aged 70, was convicted in March of 2014, and sentenced to six years in a wide-ranging case in which he was accused of accepting bribes to promote a controversial real-estate project in Jerusalem. He was charged for acts that happened while he was mayor of Jerusalem and the country’s trade minister, years before he became prime minister in 2006, it was added.
Olmert has denied any wrongdoing and was allowed to stay out of prison until the verdict on his appeal was delivered.
After Tuesday’s verdict was handed down, Olmert said he was “satisfied” about his partial exoneration. He added that it was still a “hard day” but that he accepted the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“A stone has been lifted from my heart,” he said. “I said, in the past, I was never offered and I never took a bribe. And, I say that again, today.”
The ruling marks a dramatic climax for a man who, only years earlier, led the country and hoped to bring about a historic peace agreement with Palestinians.
Olmert was forced to resign in early 2009, amid the corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way for the election of hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu, and subsequent Mideast peace efforts have utterly failed.
According to AP/PNN, the court announced that Olmert will begin serving his sentence on Feb. 15 -- the first Israeli leader to ever serve behind bars. Though the ruling marked a legal victory for Olmert’s team, the top court upheld part of his conviction for taking a lesser bribe.
Olmert, aged 70, was convicted in March of 2014, and sentenced to six years in a wide-ranging case in which he was accused of accepting bribes to promote a controversial real-estate project in Jerusalem. He was charged for acts that happened while he was mayor of Jerusalem and the country’s trade minister, years before he became prime minister in 2006, it was added.
Olmert has denied any wrongdoing and was allowed to stay out of prison until the verdict on his appeal was delivered.
After Tuesday’s verdict was handed down, Olmert said he was “satisfied” about his partial exoneration. He added that it was still a “hard day” but that he accepted the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“A stone has been lifted from my heart,” he said. “I said, in the past, I was never offered and I never took a bribe. And, I say that again, today.”
The ruling marks a dramatic climax for a man who, only years earlier, led the country and hoped to bring about a historic peace agreement with Palestinians.
Olmert was forced to resign in early 2009, amid the corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way for the election of hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu, and subsequent Mideast peace efforts have utterly failed.
5 july 2015
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert entering court
State Attorney says that due to lenient punishment in the Talansky affair, former prime minister should be sentenced to firm prison time in the Investment Center Affair.
The State Attorney's Office said Sunday that the punishment given to former prime minister Ehud Olmert in the Talansky Affair by the Jerusalem District Court was too lenient, but said it will not appeal the sentencing.
This time, the state is requesting the Supreme Court to sentence Olmert in the Investment Center affair to an active prison term, rather than a suspended sentence, which will be added to the sentence he received in the Talansky affair.
Last March, the Jerusalem District Court convicted Olmert in the Talansky affair of fraud, breach of trust and fraud in aggravating circumstances. The sentence imposed in May was eight months in prison and a fine of $100,000.
The State Attorney's Office asserted that the court should have handed down one sentence for both cases that Olmert was convicted in - the Talansky Affair and the Investment Center Affair. According to the State Attorney's Office, given the nature of the sentence Olmert received in the Talansky affair, the Supreme Court should stiffen the sentence he received in the Investment Center affair.
According to the prosecution, the sentence imposed on Olmert by the court in the Talansky affair is overly lenient, taking into account the serious circumstances, but the state will still not appeal the lenient sentence.
Olmert's legal woes
Talansky affair: Olmert was found guilty of taking hundreds of thousands of shekels for private use while serving as economy minister. Most of this money came from businessman Morris Talansky. The former prime minister didn't report the money to the state comptroller as required by law, and he was found guilty of graft, aggravating circumstances, fraud and breach of trust. He was sentenced to eight months in prison. His attorneys announced that they will appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Investment Center affair: This involved Olmert granting favors in his capacity as a minister to his confidante Uri Messer despite a conflict of interest. Olmert was convicted in 2012 and received a suspended sentence only. The state appealed the lightness of the sentence, and the appeal is pending.
Rishon Tours affair: This case entailed allegations that Olmert was double and triple-billing trips abroad sponsored by Jewish institutions, and either pocketed the difference or financed trips for relatives. In 2012, Olmert was acquitted of any wrongdoing. The appeal is pending in the Supreme Court, but the judges have already hinted that they would not intervene.
Holyland Affair: Investigations found that during his tenure as mayor of Jerusalem, Olmert accepted bribes to overlook building codes for the construction of the Holyland buildings in the capital.
Ehud Olmert was convicted of receiving NIS 560,000 ($160,000 US) in bribes. He was acquitted of two other charges of bribery. The judge rejected Olmert's version of events, declaring that he had lied to the court. The Tel Aviv district court sentenced him to six years in jail. His appeal is being heard in the Supreme Court and the sides are awaiting a decision.
State Attorney says that due to lenient punishment in the Talansky affair, former prime minister should be sentenced to firm prison time in the Investment Center Affair.
The State Attorney's Office said Sunday that the punishment given to former prime minister Ehud Olmert in the Talansky Affair by the Jerusalem District Court was too lenient, but said it will not appeal the sentencing.
This time, the state is requesting the Supreme Court to sentence Olmert in the Investment Center affair to an active prison term, rather than a suspended sentence, which will be added to the sentence he received in the Talansky affair.
Last March, the Jerusalem District Court convicted Olmert in the Talansky affair of fraud, breach of trust and fraud in aggravating circumstances. The sentence imposed in May was eight months in prison and a fine of $100,000.
The State Attorney's Office asserted that the court should have handed down one sentence for both cases that Olmert was convicted in - the Talansky Affair and the Investment Center Affair. According to the State Attorney's Office, given the nature of the sentence Olmert received in the Talansky affair, the Supreme Court should stiffen the sentence he received in the Investment Center affair.
According to the prosecution, the sentence imposed on Olmert by the court in the Talansky affair is overly lenient, taking into account the serious circumstances, but the state will still not appeal the lenient sentence.
Olmert's legal woes
Talansky affair: Olmert was found guilty of taking hundreds of thousands of shekels for private use while serving as economy minister. Most of this money came from businessman Morris Talansky. The former prime minister didn't report the money to the state comptroller as required by law, and he was found guilty of graft, aggravating circumstances, fraud and breach of trust. He was sentenced to eight months in prison. His attorneys announced that they will appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Investment Center affair: This involved Olmert granting favors in his capacity as a minister to his confidante Uri Messer despite a conflict of interest. Olmert was convicted in 2012 and received a suspended sentence only. The state appealed the lightness of the sentence, and the appeal is pending.
Rishon Tours affair: This case entailed allegations that Olmert was double and triple-billing trips abroad sponsored by Jewish institutions, and either pocketed the difference or financed trips for relatives. In 2012, Olmert was acquitted of any wrongdoing. The appeal is pending in the Supreme Court, but the judges have already hinted that they would not intervene.
Holyland Affair: Investigations found that during his tenure as mayor of Jerusalem, Olmert accepted bribes to overlook building codes for the construction of the Holyland buildings in the capital.
Ehud Olmert was convicted of receiving NIS 560,000 ($160,000 US) in bribes. He was acquitted of two other charges of bribery. The judge rejected Olmert's version of events, declaring that he had lied to the court. The Tel Aviv district court sentenced him to six years in jail. His appeal is being heard in the Supreme Court and the sides are awaiting a decision.
25 may 2015
Olmert in court on Monday
Former Prime Minister accused of accepting cash bribes in envelopes from businessman Moshe Talansky.
Jerusalem District Court on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to eight months in prison and another eight months probation in the so-called Talansky case, in which he was accused of accepting envelopes filled with money from American Jewish businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky.
Olmert was acquitted in 2012 due to reasonable doubt, but the judges overturned their decision two months ago, following the prosecution's appeal, which was based on Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zaken's testimony.
Olmert was found guilty of taking hundreds of thousands of shekels for private use while serving as Minister of the Economy. Most of this money came from businessman Morris Talansky. The former PM didn't report to the state comptroller receiving the money as required by law, and he is guilty of graft, aggravating circumstances, fraud and breach of trust.
Olmert decided not to testify in the new trial but did speak during the punishment pleas. "I believe that there is no harsher punishment than what I have been going through these last years", Olmert stated to the court. "For almost a tenth of my life I've become a punching bag, and each punch, in certain circles, received sympathy and support.
"Throughout these years I had to amass strength in order to defend myself, to support my growing family and my spouse. What will I say to my grandchild (when) children talk about his grandfather and he is damaged and helpless? How does one explain to one's granddaughter why teachers humiliate her due to what they saw on the news the night before?"
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentence Monday to eight months in prison and another eight months probation in the Talansky affair. Olmert was found guilty of accepting bribes in cash from businessman Moshe Talansky.
The former prime minister was also found guilty of graft during his time as Mayor of Jerusalem in the "Holyland Affair".
Former Prime Minister accused of accepting cash bribes in envelopes from businessman Moshe Talansky.
Jerusalem District Court on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to eight months in prison and another eight months probation in the so-called Talansky case, in which he was accused of accepting envelopes filled with money from American Jewish businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky.
Olmert was acquitted in 2012 due to reasonable doubt, but the judges overturned their decision two months ago, following the prosecution's appeal, which was based on Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zaken's testimony.
Olmert was found guilty of taking hundreds of thousands of shekels for private use while serving as Minister of the Economy. Most of this money came from businessman Morris Talansky. The former PM didn't report to the state comptroller receiving the money as required by law, and he is guilty of graft, aggravating circumstances, fraud and breach of trust.
Olmert decided not to testify in the new trial but did speak during the punishment pleas. "I believe that there is no harsher punishment than what I have been going through these last years", Olmert stated to the court. "For almost a tenth of my life I've become a punching bag, and each punch, in certain circles, received sympathy and support.
"Throughout these years I had to amass strength in order to defend myself, to support my growing family and my spouse. What will I say to my grandchild (when) children talk about his grandfather and he is damaged and helpless? How does one explain to one's granddaughter why teachers humiliate her due to what they saw on the news the night before?"
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentence Monday to eight months in prison and another eight months probation in the Talansky affair. Olmert was found guilty of accepting bribes in cash from businessman Moshe Talansky.
The former prime minister was also found guilty of graft during his time as Mayor of Jerusalem in the "Holyland Affair".
5 may 2015
Olmert with his daughter Shuli at court
Prosecutor recommends 8-18 month jail term for former PM at sentencing hearing in Talansky affair; Olmert's adopted daughter vouches for his integrity.
Tony Blair and Meir Dagan have expressed support for beleaguered former prime minister Ehud Olmert in the latter's sentencing hearing at Jerusalem District Court, following his corruption conviction in March.
Olmert arrived Thursday morning at the court for sentencing in the Talansky affair, in which he was found guilty of accepting cash-filled envelopes from American Jewish businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky, for whom the affair was named.
The prosecutors in the trial sought to impose an 8-18 month punishment for Olmert.
Olmert's lawyers presented the court with several letters testifying to his character, including one from the former British prime minister, and another by Dagan, a former Mossad chief whose testimony was under a gag order. The judges returned Dagan's letter immediately after reading, due to security restrictions.
Other letters attesting to Olmert's integrity came from Meir Kraus, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and by Prof. Arie Orenstein from the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. In addition, a senior Mossad official arrived at court to testify in favor of the former prime minister.
During the hearing, Olmert was moved to tears when his adopted daughter, Shuli Nidas, vouched for his good character, saying that it was thanks to him and his wife Aliza, she "understood what a father and mother are supposed to be".
Nidas faced the judges and spoke of her father: "One time when I was at boarding school, I was told that someone had come to pick me up. It was Ehud. That's where I met him, it was my first time."
She said that she moved in to the Olmert family home for three years, in which she was "given support, medical care, and an education….I passed through crossroads over the years, and I always had someone I could talk to – Ehud." Blair praised Olmert in the letter he wrote, and told of the positive attitude Olmert managed to generate among European leaders towards Israel, noting in addition that he was a visionary who had worked for promoting peace in the Middle East.
Meir Kraus, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies wrote about Olmert's "dedication to advancing educational institutions in East Jerusalem," and stated that through his work, Olmert managed to spread the message that "the rights of children living in the eastern part of the city for education should be equal to those of children in the western part of the city, and that it is the responsibility of the educational system to ensure that all children are treated equally."
In March, the Jerusalem District Court found Olmert guilty in the so-called Talansky case, which was reopened after Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zaken handed over incriminating recordings as part of a plea bargain. The recordings appear to prove that Olmert used the money Talansky gave him for personal use - contrary to what he claimed.
Talansky gave Olmert hundreds of thousands of dollars, one hundred thousand of which was in envelopes, during his stints as mayor of Jerusalem and minister of trade and industry. In return, Olmert promoted Talansky's business interests ahead of others.
The money went into a secret fund managed by Olmert's associate Uri Messer.
Olmert has claimed he was on the brink of a historic agreement with the Palestinians when he was forced to resign in early 2009 over the corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way for right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu's election.
Prosecutor recommends 8-18 month jail term for former PM at sentencing hearing in Talansky affair; Olmert's adopted daughter vouches for his integrity.
Tony Blair and Meir Dagan have expressed support for beleaguered former prime minister Ehud Olmert in the latter's sentencing hearing at Jerusalem District Court, following his corruption conviction in March.
Olmert arrived Thursday morning at the court for sentencing in the Talansky affair, in which he was found guilty of accepting cash-filled envelopes from American Jewish businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky, for whom the affair was named.
The prosecutors in the trial sought to impose an 8-18 month punishment for Olmert.
Olmert's lawyers presented the court with several letters testifying to his character, including one from the former British prime minister, and another by Dagan, a former Mossad chief whose testimony was under a gag order. The judges returned Dagan's letter immediately after reading, due to security restrictions.
Other letters attesting to Olmert's integrity came from Meir Kraus, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and by Prof. Arie Orenstein from the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. In addition, a senior Mossad official arrived at court to testify in favor of the former prime minister.
During the hearing, Olmert was moved to tears when his adopted daughter, Shuli Nidas, vouched for his good character, saying that it was thanks to him and his wife Aliza, she "understood what a father and mother are supposed to be".
Nidas faced the judges and spoke of her father: "One time when I was at boarding school, I was told that someone had come to pick me up. It was Ehud. That's where I met him, it was my first time."
She said that she moved in to the Olmert family home for three years, in which she was "given support, medical care, and an education….I passed through crossroads over the years, and I always had someone I could talk to – Ehud." Blair praised Olmert in the letter he wrote, and told of the positive attitude Olmert managed to generate among European leaders towards Israel, noting in addition that he was a visionary who had worked for promoting peace in the Middle East.
Meir Kraus, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies wrote about Olmert's "dedication to advancing educational institutions in East Jerusalem," and stated that through his work, Olmert managed to spread the message that "the rights of children living in the eastern part of the city for education should be equal to those of children in the western part of the city, and that it is the responsibility of the educational system to ensure that all children are treated equally."
In March, the Jerusalem District Court found Olmert guilty in the so-called Talansky case, which was reopened after Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zaken handed over incriminating recordings as part of a plea bargain. The recordings appear to prove that Olmert used the money Talansky gave him for personal use - contrary to what he claimed.
Talansky gave Olmert hundreds of thousands of dollars, one hundred thousand of which was in envelopes, during his stints as mayor of Jerusalem and minister of trade and industry. In return, Olmert promoted Talansky's business interests ahead of others.
The money went into a secret fund managed by Olmert's associate Uri Messer.
Olmert has claimed he was on the brink of a historic agreement with the Palestinians when he was forced to resign in early 2009 over the corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way for right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu's election.
30 mar 2015
Former PM found guilty of accepting cash from US Jewish businessman for personal use; defense team: We will appeal, tapes used by prosecution had been manipulated by chronic liar.
Two years and a half after he walked free, and seven months after the case was reopened, Jerusalem District Court on Monday found former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert guilty in the so-called Talansky case, in which he was accused of accepting envelopes filled with money from American Jewish businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky.
The case was reopened after Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zaken handed over incriminating recordings as part of a plea bargain. The recordings appear to prove that Olmert used the money Talanksy gave him for personal use - contrary to what he claimed.
The ruling was handed down by judges Yaakov Saban and Moshe Sobel (who were on the panel that previously exonerated Olmert) and Rivka Friedman Feldman (who is replacing retired justice Moussia Arad).
"Shula Zaken's diaries have relevant content, have real weight," the judges wrote in their ruling Monday morning. "On two occasions during this period, Zaken received money from these funds. This was an annual addition to her salary." They determined that the diaries and recordings were admissible as evidence.
Olmert's defense team expressed displeasure following the ruling, and vowed to appeal.
"We regret and are disappointed with the verdict. The decision was taken despite the blatant lies by Shula Zaken in court, and the defense team proved unequivocally that Zaken edited, erased and reworked the tapes in a manipulative manner, and that the recordings were unreliable to say the least."
The team further said that, "The court erred when it chose to ignore her clear lies in court as well as the long list of statements from the courts over the years about her lack of credibility. We intend to appeal this erroneous decision by the court."
Olmert's lawyer Eyal Rosovsky said the former prime minister had not testified during the trial as, "We believed the material would prove insufficient to change the result."
Fellow defense attorney Eli Zohar said that, "political funds, funds held by public officials - have been through legislative reversals throughout time. At the time, while it was ongoing, this position was legitimate and correct. Now they view the same collective funds in a different manner to how they viewed them a year or two ago. This social evolution, and history will judge whether it is right or wrong."
The Supreme Court had still to rule on the prosecution's appeal against Olmert's previous exoneration.
'Olmert knew'
In the ruling, the judges said that the new evidence had now led them to believe that Olmert had misled the state comptroller about the existence of the money.
"The defendant had been required to declare this asset to the state comptroller. Failure to report it prevented an inspection and thus proves causal connection. His actions to convince Zaken to present the money as political funding indicate awareness," they wrote.
In her own opinion, Judge Feldman wrote that she agreed with the verdict, but noted, "There were enough factual findings in the original verdict to convict the defendant."
According to the indictment, Talansky gave Olmert hundreds of thousands of dollars, one hundred thousand of which was in envelopes, during his stints as mayor of Jerusalem and minister of trade and industry. In return, Olmert allegedly promoted Talansky's business interests ahead of others.
The charge sheet claimed that the money went into a secret fund managed by Olmert's associate Uri Messer.
Olmert has claimed he was on the brink of a historic agreement with the Palestinians when he was forced to resign in early 2009 over the corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way for hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu's election. Peace efforts have been at a standstill ever since.
Two years and a half after he walked free, and seven months after the case was reopened, Jerusalem District Court on Monday found former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert guilty in the so-called Talansky case, in which he was accused of accepting envelopes filled with money from American Jewish businessman Morris "Moshe" Talansky.
The case was reopened after Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zaken handed over incriminating recordings as part of a plea bargain. The recordings appear to prove that Olmert used the money Talanksy gave him for personal use - contrary to what he claimed.
The ruling was handed down by judges Yaakov Saban and Moshe Sobel (who were on the panel that previously exonerated Olmert) and Rivka Friedman Feldman (who is replacing retired justice Moussia Arad).
"Shula Zaken's diaries have relevant content, have real weight," the judges wrote in their ruling Monday morning. "On two occasions during this period, Zaken received money from these funds. This was an annual addition to her salary." They determined that the diaries and recordings were admissible as evidence.
Olmert's defense team expressed displeasure following the ruling, and vowed to appeal.
"We regret and are disappointed with the verdict. The decision was taken despite the blatant lies by Shula Zaken in court, and the defense team proved unequivocally that Zaken edited, erased and reworked the tapes in a manipulative manner, and that the recordings were unreliable to say the least."
The team further said that, "The court erred when it chose to ignore her clear lies in court as well as the long list of statements from the courts over the years about her lack of credibility. We intend to appeal this erroneous decision by the court."
Olmert's lawyer Eyal Rosovsky said the former prime minister had not testified during the trial as, "We believed the material would prove insufficient to change the result."
Fellow defense attorney Eli Zohar said that, "political funds, funds held by public officials - have been through legislative reversals throughout time. At the time, while it was ongoing, this position was legitimate and correct. Now they view the same collective funds in a different manner to how they viewed them a year or two ago. This social evolution, and history will judge whether it is right or wrong."
The Supreme Court had still to rule on the prosecution's appeal against Olmert's previous exoneration.
'Olmert knew'
In the ruling, the judges said that the new evidence had now led them to believe that Olmert had misled the state comptroller about the existence of the money.
"The defendant had been required to declare this asset to the state comptroller. Failure to report it prevented an inspection and thus proves causal connection. His actions to convince Zaken to present the money as political funding indicate awareness," they wrote.
In her own opinion, Judge Feldman wrote that she agreed with the verdict, but noted, "There were enough factual findings in the original verdict to convict the defendant."
According to the indictment, Talansky gave Olmert hundreds of thousands of dollars, one hundred thousand of which was in envelopes, during his stints as mayor of Jerusalem and minister of trade and industry. In return, Olmert allegedly promoted Talansky's business interests ahead of others.
The charge sheet claimed that the money went into a secret fund managed by Olmert's associate Uri Messer.
Olmert has claimed he was on the brink of a historic agreement with the Palestinians when he was forced to resign in early 2009 over the corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way for hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu's election. Peace efforts have been at a standstill ever since.
13 may 2014
A Tel Aviv court on Tuesday sentenced Israeli ex-premier Ehud Olmert to six years in prison for accepting bribes linked to a major property development in Jerusalem, media reports said.
Broadcasting live from the court, Israel's main radio stations said Judge David Rosen handed Olmert six years of jail time and a fine of a million shekels ($290,000) over his involvement in one of the country's worst-ever corruption scandals.
The 68-year-old, who was convicted six weeks ago on two charges of taking bribes, is the first former prime minister of Israel to face jail time for corruption.
"He held the most important and central position and ended up convicted of contemptible crimes," the judge said in passing the sentence.
"A public official who accepts bribes is tantamount to a traitor," he said.
Following a two-year trial, Olmert was convicted on March 31 of bribes to the tune of 560,000 shekels (now $160,000) with the judge also saying he had committed perjury.
The trial, which included 16 defendants and took place over two years, was linked to the construction of Jerusalem's massive Holyland residential complex when Olmert served as the city's mayor.
In 2010, Olmert was named the key suspect in the so-called Holyland affair on suspicion he received hundreds of thousands of shekels for helping developers get the construction project past various legal and planning obstacles.
The towering construction project, which dominates the city's skyline, is seen as a major blot on the landscape and widely reviled as a symbol of high-level corruption.
'Not a regular criminal'
Wearing a royal blue shirt and khaki chinos, Olmert looked tired and subdued as he entered the court room.
Rosen described Olmert as "very smart" and "personable" but said he and a fellow city official also convicted of receiving bribes had worked to "line their own pockets" were "not regular criminals".
Olmert was fifth in line to be sentenced, with three earlier defendants convicted of giving bribes, receiving lower sentences than demanded by the prosecution.
But the city's former engineer, who like Olmert accepted bribes, was handed seven years of jail time.
In July 2012, a Jerusalem court found Olmert guilty of breach of trust but cleared him on two more serious charges related to the alleged receipt of cash-stuffed envelopes and multiple billing for trips abroad.
He was fined $19,000 and given a suspended jail sentence for graft.
The conviction related to favors that Olmert granted a former colleague while serving as trade and industry minister.
The Haifa-born politician was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003, after which he served as a cabinet minister, holding the trade and industry portfolio as well as several others.
He became premier in 2006, leading the center-right Kadima party into government, but resigned in September 2008 after police recommended that he be indicted in several graft cases.
Broadcasting live from the court, Israel's main radio stations said Judge David Rosen handed Olmert six years of jail time and a fine of a million shekels ($290,000) over his involvement in one of the country's worst-ever corruption scandals.
The 68-year-old, who was convicted six weeks ago on two charges of taking bribes, is the first former prime minister of Israel to face jail time for corruption.
"He held the most important and central position and ended up convicted of contemptible crimes," the judge said in passing the sentence.
"A public official who accepts bribes is tantamount to a traitor," he said.
Following a two-year trial, Olmert was convicted on March 31 of bribes to the tune of 560,000 shekels (now $160,000) with the judge also saying he had committed perjury.
The trial, which included 16 defendants and took place over two years, was linked to the construction of Jerusalem's massive Holyland residential complex when Olmert served as the city's mayor.
In 2010, Olmert was named the key suspect in the so-called Holyland affair on suspicion he received hundreds of thousands of shekels for helping developers get the construction project past various legal and planning obstacles.
The towering construction project, which dominates the city's skyline, is seen as a major blot on the landscape and widely reviled as a symbol of high-level corruption.
'Not a regular criminal'
Wearing a royal blue shirt and khaki chinos, Olmert looked tired and subdued as he entered the court room.
Rosen described Olmert as "very smart" and "personable" but said he and a fellow city official also convicted of receiving bribes had worked to "line their own pockets" were "not regular criminals".
Olmert was fifth in line to be sentenced, with three earlier defendants convicted of giving bribes, receiving lower sentences than demanded by the prosecution.
But the city's former engineer, who like Olmert accepted bribes, was handed seven years of jail time.
In July 2012, a Jerusalem court found Olmert guilty of breach of trust but cleared him on two more serious charges related to the alleged receipt of cash-stuffed envelopes and multiple billing for trips abroad.
He was fined $19,000 and given a suspended jail sentence for graft.
The conviction related to favors that Olmert granted a former colleague while serving as trade and industry minister.
The Haifa-born politician was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003, after which he served as a cabinet minister, holding the trade and industry portfolio as well as several others.
He became premier in 2006, leading the center-right Kadima party into government, but resigned in September 2008 after police recommended that he be indicted in several graft cases.
28 apr 2014
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Israel's state prosecution is seeking a jail term of five to seven years for former premier Ehud Olmert who was convicted in March of bribery, a judicial source said Monday.
Olmert was convicted on March 31 on two counts of receiving bribes in connection with a sprawling Jerusalem property development, in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Israeli history. "The state is intending to seek five to seven years of prison time for Ehud Olmert for the first count and between two and four years for the second," a source at the justice ministry told AFP after sentencing deliberations got under way at Tel Aviv District Court. |
Press reports said the prosecution was also seeking to fine Olmert 1.2 million shekels ($345,000).
In 2010, Olmert was named the key suspect in the so-called Holyland affair on suspicion that he received hundreds of thousands of shekels for helping developers get a massive residential construction project past various legal and planning obstacles.
Following a two-year trial, he was convicted of receiving bribes to the tune of 560,000 shekels ($160,000 at the current exchange rate) with the judge also saying he had committed perjury.
The 68-year-old has vowed to appeal.
The sentencing process which began on Monday is likely to last several weeks, legal sources said.
In July 2012, a Jerusalem court found Olmert guilty of breach of trust but cleared him on two more serious charges related to the alleged receipt of cash-stuffed envelopes and multiple billing for trips abroad.
He was fined $19,000 and given a suspended jail sentence for graft.
In 2010, Olmert was named the key suspect in the so-called Holyland affair on suspicion that he received hundreds of thousands of shekels for helping developers get a massive residential construction project past various legal and planning obstacles.
Following a two-year trial, he was convicted of receiving bribes to the tune of 560,000 shekels ($160,000 at the current exchange rate) with the judge also saying he had committed perjury.
The 68-year-old has vowed to appeal.
The sentencing process which began on Monday is likely to last several weeks, legal sources said.
In July 2012, a Jerusalem court found Olmert guilty of breach of trust but cleared him on two more serious charges related to the alleged receipt of cash-stuffed envelopes and multiple billing for trips abroad.
He was fined $19,000 and given a suspended jail sentence for graft.
31 mar 2014
Tel Aviv district court on Monday convicted former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in a trial for corruption linked to a major property development in Jerusalem, Israeli media reports said.
The ruling marks the first time a former Israeli premier has been convicted of bribery in what has been called one of the worst corruption scandals in the country's history.
According to public Channel 1 television, Olmert was convicted on two counts of receiving bribes linked to construction of Jerusalem's massive Holyland residential complex dating from when he was the city's mayor.
"We're talking about corrupt and filthy practices," Judge David Rosen said while reading out the verdict, his remarks playing out across all Israeli media.
He also spoke of a "corrupt political system which has decayed over the years... and in which hundreds of thousands of shekels were transferred to elected officials".
Rosen also said the former premier had lied to the court in a bid to "blacken the name" of the state's witness.
Olmert reportedly sat expressionless throughout the verdict.
In 2010, Olmert was named the key suspect in the so-called Holyland affair on suspicion that he received bribes totaling some 1.5 million shekels ($430,000), although the prosecution later reduced the sum received by about half.
He was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003, after which he served as a cabinet minister, holding the trade and industry portfolio as well as several others, before becoming premier in 2006.
He led the center-right Kadima party into government, but resigned from the premiership in September 2008 after police recommended that he be indicted in several graft cases.
In July 2012, a Jerusalem court found Olmert guilty of breach of trust in a closely watched corruption case, but cleared him on two more serious charges related to the alleged receipt of cash-stuffed envelopes and multiple billing for trips abroad.
He was fined $19,000 and given a suspended jail sentence for graft.
The conviction related to favors that Olmert granted a former colleague while serving as the trade and industry minister.
The ruling marks the first time a former Israeli premier has been convicted of bribery in what has been called one of the worst corruption scandals in the country's history.
According to public Channel 1 television, Olmert was convicted on two counts of receiving bribes linked to construction of Jerusalem's massive Holyland residential complex dating from when he was the city's mayor.
"We're talking about corrupt and filthy practices," Judge David Rosen said while reading out the verdict, his remarks playing out across all Israeli media.
He also spoke of a "corrupt political system which has decayed over the years... and in which hundreds of thousands of shekels were transferred to elected officials".
Rosen also said the former premier had lied to the court in a bid to "blacken the name" of the state's witness.
Olmert reportedly sat expressionless throughout the verdict.
In 2010, Olmert was named the key suspect in the so-called Holyland affair on suspicion that he received bribes totaling some 1.5 million shekels ($430,000), although the prosecution later reduced the sum received by about half.
He was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003, after which he served as a cabinet minister, holding the trade and industry portfolio as well as several others, before becoming premier in 2006.
He led the center-right Kadima party into government, but resigned from the premiership in September 2008 after police recommended that he be indicted in several graft cases.
In July 2012, a Jerusalem court found Olmert guilty of breach of trust in a closely watched corruption case, but cleared him on two more serious charges related to the alleged receipt of cash-stuffed envelopes and multiple billing for trips abroad.
He was fined $19,000 and given a suspended jail sentence for graft.
The conviction related to favors that Olmert granted a former colleague while serving as the trade and industry minister.
