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Israel ex-PM Ehud Olmert jailed for six years for bribery Israel ex-PM Ehud Olmert jailed for six years for bribery
(35 minutes later)
A court in Israel has sentenced former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to six years in prison for bribery and fined him 1m shekels ($289,000; £171,000).A court in Israel has sentenced former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to six years in prison for bribery and fined him 1m shekels ($289,000; £171,000).
Olmert's spokesman said he would appeal to the Supreme Court and ask to be freed on bail until it had ruled. He had sought a non-custodial sentence. The judge ordered Olmert to report to prison on 1 September, effectively giving his lawyers time to lodge their planned appeal with the Supreme Court.
He would be the first former head of government in Israel to be jailed.He would be the first former head of government in Israel to be jailed.
The 68-year-old was convicted in March over a real estate deal that took place while he served as mayor of Jerusalem.The 68-year-old was convicted in March over a real estate deal that took place while he served as mayor of Jerusalem.
The Tel Aviv District Court found him guilty of two bribery charges and said he had accepted 500,000 shekels ($145,000; £86,000) from the developers of a controversial apartment complex, known as Holyland, and another 60,000 shekels in a separate real estate project. The Tel Aviv District Court found he had accepted a 500,000-shekel ($145,000; £86,000) bribe from the developers of a controversial apartment complex, known as Holyland, for which planning and zoning laws were changed, and another 60,000 shekels for a separate project.
'Traitor' Ten other government officials and businesspeople were convicted alongside Olmert. The sentences handed down on Tuesday against six of them ranged from three to seven years.
On Tuesday, Judge Uri Rozen said bribery offences "contaminate the public sector" and "cause the structure of government to collapse". 'Feeling of disgust'
Judge Uri Rozen said bribery offences "contaminate the public sector" and "cause the structure of government to collapse".
He added: "People who receive bribes give rise to a feeling of disgust and cause the public to despise the state's institutions. The taker of bribes is like a traitor who betrays the public trust that was given to him - trust without which a proper public service cannot be maintained."He added: "People who receive bribes give rise to a feeling of disgust and cause the public to despise the state's institutions. The taker of bribes is like a traitor who betrays the public trust that was given to him - trust without which a proper public service cannot be maintained."
Olmert's spokesman, Amir Dan, insisted he was innocent. The judge said Olmert had made a "large contribution to the country".
But he described his offences as "noxious" and said he was guilty of "moral turpitude", which under Israeli law would preclude him from running for public office for seven years after finishing his jail term.
Olmert reportedly stood quietly in the courtroom with his head bowed. His lawyers had sought a non-custodial sentence.
Before the sentencing hearing, the veteran politician's spokesman, Amir Dan, had insisted that he was innocent.
"This is a sad day where a serious and unjust verdict is expected to be delivered against an innocent man," he said."This is a sad day where a serious and unjust verdict is expected to be delivered against an innocent man," he said.
Olmert served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009, until a flurry of corruption allegations led to his resignation.Olmert served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009, until a flurry of corruption allegations led to his resignation.
He was acquitted of most of the major charges eventually brought against him by prosecutors but was also found guilty of breach of trust and given a one-year suspended jail sentence.He was acquitted of most of the major charges eventually brought against him by prosecutors but was also found guilty of breach of trust and given a one-year suspended jail sentence.
He was found to have made decision when he was minister of trade and industry that benefited clients of a close associate.He was found to have made decision when he was minister of trade and industry that benefited clients of a close associate.