First Israeli PM ever to go behind bars
Olmert expected to appeal decision to Supreme Court; judge fines former PM NIS 1 million while also ordering authorities to seize NIS 500,000 in funds from him; court says Olmert to begin sentence Sept. 1, pending appeal.
Tel Aviv District Court Judge David Rozen on early today(Tuesday)sentenced former prime minister Ehud Olmert to six years of prison time on conviction for two counts of bribery in the Holyland trial.
The prosecution had asked for a minimum sentence of six years in prison. Olmert's spokesperson has indicated that he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
The judge also delayed the arrest and imprisonment of all of the Holyland defendants, including Olmert until September 1.
Rozen also imposed a fine of NIS 1 million while also ordering authorities to seize NIS 500,000 in funds accumulated by the former premier.
Olmert's lawyer Eli Zohar had asked the court to give him only community service and argued that even an extreme interpretation of Supreme Court precedent could not sustain a prison sentence longer than 18 months.
Experts had been estimating that Olmert would likely get at least a few years in prison, and that his being prime minister would not get him special treatment.
Still, on a separate prior and less serious conviction in his July 2012 Jerusalem corruption trial, Olmert received only community service with the court noting his service to the state as one of the reasons for leniency.
Olmert expected to appeal decision to Supreme Court; judge fines former PM NIS 1 million while also ordering authorities to seize NIS 500,000 in funds from him; court says Olmert to begin sentence Sept. 1, pending appeal.
Tel Aviv District Court Judge David Rozen on early today(Tuesday)sentenced former prime minister Ehud Olmert to six years of prison time on conviction for two counts of bribery in the Holyland trial.
The prosecution had asked for a minimum sentence of six years in prison. Olmert's spokesperson has indicated that he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
The judge also delayed the arrest and imprisonment of all of the Holyland defendants, including Olmert until September 1.
Rozen also imposed a fine of NIS 1 million while also ordering authorities to seize NIS 500,000 in funds accumulated by the former premier.
Olmert's lawyer Eli Zohar had asked the court to give him only community service and argued that even an extreme interpretation of Supreme Court precedent could not sustain a prison sentence longer than 18 months.
Experts had been estimating that Olmert would likely get at least a few years in prison, and that his being prime minister would not get him special treatment.
Still, on a separate prior and less serious conviction in his July 2012 Jerusalem corruption trial, Olmert received only community service with the court noting his service to the state as one of the reasons for leniency.
No comments:
Post a Comment