This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32873016
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel ex-PM Ehud Olmert given prison sentence | Israel ex-PM Ehud Olmert given prison sentence |
| (1 day later) | |
| A court in Jerusalem has sentenced the former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, to eight months in prison for fraud and breach of trust. | A court in Jerusalem has sentenced the former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, to eight months in prison for fraud and breach of trust. |
| He was convicted at a retrial in March of accepting illegal payments from an American businessman while he served as mayor of Jerusalem and trade minister. | He was convicted at a retrial in March of accepting illegal payments from an American businessman while he served as mayor of Jerusalem and trade minister. |
| Last year, he was sentenced to six years in prison for accepting bribes. | Last year, he was sentenced to six years in prison for accepting bribes. |
| Olmert has denied any wrongdoing and will remain free until his appeals against both convictions are heard. | Olmert has denied any wrongdoing and will remain free until his appeals against both convictions are heard. |
| A Supreme Court decision on the first appeal is expected in the next couple of months. | A Supreme Court decision on the first appeal is expected in the next couple of months. |
| If he is unsuccessful OImert will become the first former head of government in Israel to be jailed. | If he is unsuccessful OImert will become the first former head of government in Israel to be jailed. |
| 'Black flag' | 'Black flag' |
| Olmert served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009. | Olmert served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009. |
| He was forced to resign amid a flurry corruption allegations, which ended his political career and disrupted the peace process with the Palestinians. | He was forced to resign amid a flurry corruption allegations, which ended his political career and disrupted the peace process with the Palestinians. |
| In 2012, Olmert was acquitted of fraud, concealing fraudulent earnings and breach of trust in connection with donations received from a New York-based financier, Morris Talansky between 1997 and 2005. | In 2012, Olmert was acquitted of fraud, concealing fraudulent earnings and breach of trust in connection with donations received from a New York-based financier, Morris Talansky between 1997 and 2005. |
| However, a retrial was ordered after a former aide, Shula Zaken, accepted a plea bargain and testified against Olmert. Ms Zaken gave prosecutors diary entries and tape recordings of conversations in which Olmert referred to receiving the money. | However, a retrial was ordered after a former aide, Shula Zaken, accepted a plea bargain and testified against Olmert. Ms Zaken gave prosecutors diary entries and tape recordings of conversations in which Olmert referred to receiving the money. |
| Olmert was found guilty of fraud and breach of trust in March and on Monday was sentenced to eight months in jail. He was also given a suspended sentence of an additional eight months and fined 100,000 shekels ($25,000; £16,000). | Olmert was found guilty of fraud and breach of trust in March and on Monday was sentenced to eight months in jail. He was also given a suspended sentence of an additional eight months and fined 100,000 shekels ($25,000; £16,000). |
| The Jerusalem District Court said the sentence recognised Olmert's contributions to Israeli society, but noted that "a black flag hovers over his conduct". | |
| Olmert's lawyer Eyal Rozovsky said they were "very disappointed" by the sentence. | Olmert's lawyer Eyal Rozovsky said they were "very disappointed" by the sentence. |
| The former prime minister has always insisted that he is innocent and has described the allegations against him as "a brutal, ruthless witch-hunt". | The former prime minister has always insisted that he is innocent and has described the allegations against him as "a brutal, ruthless witch-hunt". |
| The 69-year-old is also appealing against the six-year sentence he was given in May 2014 in connection with a real estate deal at took place when he was mayor of Jerusalem in the 1990s. | The 69-year-old is also appealing against the six-year sentence he was given in May 2014 in connection with a real estate deal at took place when he was mayor of Jerusalem in the 1990s. |
| He was convicted of accepting bribes in return for speeding up a controversial residential development, known as Holyland, in the heart of the city. | He was convicted of accepting bribes in return for speeding up a controversial residential development, known as Holyland, in the heart of the city. |