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Former Israeli PM found guilty in reopened corruption case

Xinhua, March 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was found guilty on charges of corruption in a trial in the Jerusalem District Court on Monday.

Olmert was acquitted in what came to be known as the "Talansky Affair" in July 2012. He was suspected of illegally receiving large sums of money in envelopes during fundraisers from U.S. businessman Moris Talansky and was charged with fraud and tax evasion.

The state prosecution decided to reopen the case after reaching a plea bargain with Olmert's former aide Shula Zaken, who was willing to testify against him in the Talansky affair and offered new evidence in the form of audio recordings of conversation between her and Olmert.

The Supreme Court granted the state attorney's motion for a retrial following the newly-discovered evidence and testimony and the trial began in September. In exchange for her help, Zaken was sentenced to 11 months in jail for her part in the improprieties.

The former prime minister was forced to step down in 2008 following several corruption allegations. He was convicted in another case, the Holyland affair, in May, in which Olmert was found guilty of receiving bribes as the former mayor of Jerusalem in exchange for expediting construction procedures for a real estate project.

Olmert was sentenced by the Tel Aviv magistrate for a prison term of six years. He appealed the sentence and his prison term awaits the results of the appeal.

In other fraud cases, Olmert was accused of double-billing organizations for family vacations and granting favors for his former partner and long-time friend attorney Uri Messer. Endi