Former Israeli Prime Minister Jailed for Receiving Bribe

Israel’s top court on Tuesday upheld a bribery conviction against former premier Ehud Olmert, which will make him the country’s first ex-prime minister to serve jail time.

The 70-year-old, who was prime minister from 2006 to 2009, was sentenced in May last year to six years in prison on two separate charges of taking bribes in the early 2000s.

“Olmert has been acquitted of the felony of taking a bribe of 500,000 shekels ($128,500/117,000 euros),” the decision read, but “unanimously convicted of the felony of taking a bribe of 60,000 shekels”.

“The sentencing will be for 18 months” beginning on February 15, said the decision reached by five justices.

The trial of the former premier was linked to the construction of Jerusalem’s massive Holyland residential complex when Olmert served as the city’s mayor.