Former Israeli Prime Minister Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

Attorney Roi Belcher said he was “happy” that the supreme court accepted some of his main arguments that had previously been rejected by the Tel Aviv district court, which had sentenced Olmert to six years jail.

Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 monthsin jail following his conviction for fraud and breach of trust in accepting envelopes of cash from United States businessman Morris Talansky.

The Supreme court although upheld a lesser charge related to Olmert taking a bribe of about $15,000.

Olmert is also appealing a separate conviction from earlier this year when he was sentenced to eight months in prison for unlawfully accepting money from an American supporter.

He was allowed to contest his appeal at the Supreme Court before going to jail.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) speaks to the media after a hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem December 29, 2015.

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 forced to resign as Prime Minister in 2009 amid a flurry of corruption allegations. I was neither offered nor did I receive bribes.

Ehud Olmert was one of eight former officials and businessmen convicted in March 2014 in a real estate corruption case officials have characterized as the largest in Israel’s history.

Other officials include Jerusalem’s former chief engineer Uri Sheetrit, Olmert’s bureau chief at the time Shula Zaken, and Olmert’s successor as mayor to Jerusalem Uri Lupolianski.

Speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s decision, Olmert said he was relieved that his sentence was reduced but insisted he was innocent.

Olmert also reportedly destroyed a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor – and his government launched a military invasion of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in late 2008 that drew heavy global criticism.

The decision capped a seven-year legal saga that severely undermined the last serious round of peace talks and propelled hard-line Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power.

The root of the argument that Yossi did not receive funds is that despite both Duchner and Yossi admitting that the fund transfer took place, no one has traced down any paperwork in any of the relevant bank accounts that proves this.

Olmert appealed this sentence as well.