Ex-PM of Israel gets eight-month jail term in corruption case

A Jerusalem court has sentenced former prime minister Ehud Olmert to eight months in prison after he was found guilty of accepting cash from an American-Jewish businessman when he served as Jerusalem mayor and industry and trade minister.

Lawyers for Olmert, who already faces a six-year prison term over a separate corruption conviction, said they would appeal yesterday’s sentence, but legal commentators said it was almost certain that Olmert would end up in jail.

In March, the court reversed a 2012 acquittal of the veteran politician following a retrial after his former office manager and loyal aide, Shula Zaken, dramatically turned state witness.

The new evidence from Ms Zaken, who has already completed a seven-month prison term under a plea bargain, included incriminating recordings she made of conversations with Olmert.

The Jerusalem district court said the sentence recognised Olmert’s contributions to Israeli society, but noted that “a black flag hovers over his conduct”.

His lawyer, Eli Zohar, described the decision as unprecedented.

“The truly shocking thing about all this is that woe be to the country that has to rely on these types of state witnesses,” Mr Zohar said. “This is a very sad day for us, and I think it is a sad day for Israeli justice.”

In contrast, state prosecutor Ori Korb said the court sent a clear message.

Olmert now faces the prospect of becoming the first former head of government in Israel to be jailed.