Former Israeli PM Olmert given six-year jail term for graft

A Tel Aviv court on Tuesday sentenced former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to six years in prison for bribery and handed him a fine of US$ 290,000.

Olmert's spokesman said he would appeal to the Supreme Court and ask to be freed on bail until it had ruled. Olmert maintains his innocence.

The former Kadima and Likud politician and ex-mayor of Jerusalem would be the first former Israeli head of government to be jailed. The 68-year-old was convicted in March over a real estate deal that took place while he served as mayor of Jerusalem.

The Tel Aviv District Court found him guilty of two charges of graft and said he had accepted the equivalent of US$ 145,000 from the developers of a controversial apartment complex, known as Holyland. According to the verdict, millions of dollars illegally changed hands to promote a series of real estate projects that required a radical change in zoning laws and earned developers tax breaks and other benefits. At the time, Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem.

Olmert was forced to resign as prime minister in 2009 amid a flurry of corruption allegations. He did not stand again in the Knesset elections.

Judge Uri Rozen said bribery offenses "contaminate the public sector" and "cause the structure of government to collapse".