Israeli Supreme Court partly overturns bribery conviction of former PM Ehud

Olmert, who is now 70, will begin serving his reduced sentence on 15 February, becoming the first Israeli leader to serve behind bars.

Olmert is expected to serve his term, separated off from most other prisoners, in the same jail holding former Israeli President Moshe Katzav.

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.

He was convicted in March 2014, accused him of accepting bribes to promote a controversial Jerusalem real-estate project.

Olmert has denied any wrongdoing and was allowed to stay out of prison until the verdict on his appeal was delivered. He said that ” a heavy cloud had been lifted from his shoulders”.

The Supreme Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence in one of the bribe cases, which prompted the judges to partially uphold the sentence, the Kol Yisrael radio station reported.

In a statement given after the verdict, Olmert maintainted that he had never accepted any bribes, but said that he respected the decision of the Supreme Court justices.

“May this serve a lesson to public figures – never use the power given to us… for personal gains”, he said in remarks relayed by a spokesman. “And I say that again today”.

Olmert was forced to resign in early 2009 amid the corruption allegations.

He claimed significant progress in talks with the Palestinians aimed at security a final peace deal, offering an Israeli withdrawal from much of the occupied West Bank.

The court also issued rulings on the appeals of seven other men sentenced last year, including former Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski, whose six-year sentence for bribery was converted to six months of community service due to his poor health.

In this affair, Olmert was found guilty of fraud, breach of trust and aggravated fraud, for receiving cash-filled envelopes from American businessman Morris Talansky.