by Benson Agoha
In a sense history was made on Monday in Tel Aviv, Israel when a former Prime Minister and others were convicted of taking bribes for a building project in Jerusalem, media reports say.
* [ Former Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski in the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday. ]
A Times of Israel report said former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, was convicted by the Tel Aviv District Court of receiving the bribe while he was the Mayor of Jerusalem.
The act was said to have been commited 10 years ago.
According to the ToI, the Court convicted the former prime minister, along with nine other former senior officials and businessmen, including former Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski (pictured above), who succeeded Olmert.
They were accused of taking and giving the bribes in the development of a massive Jerusalem construction project (below) promoted while Olmert was mayor of the city.
In a sense history was made on Monday in Tel Aviv, Israel when a former Prime Minister and others were convicted of taking bribes for a building project in Jerusalem, media reports say.
A Times of Israel report said former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, was convicted by the Tel Aviv District Court of receiving the bribe while he was the Mayor of Jerusalem.
The act was said to have been commited 10 years ago.
According to the ToI, the Court convicted the former prime minister, along with nine other former senior officials and businessmen, including former Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski (pictured above), who succeeded Olmert.
They were accused of taking and giving the bribes in the development of a massive Jerusalem construction project (below) promoted while Olmert was mayor of the city.
"The ruling marks the first time a former Israeli prime minister has been convicted of bribery in what has been called one of the worst corruption scandals in the country’s history," ToI said, adding it appears to stop the former PM reviving his political ambition at national level.
It is not clear if the verdict will be contested by Olmert whose attorneys refused to give immediate comment, but sentencing will take place at a later date.
Roy Blecher, defence attorney to Olmert said “We will weigh our options going forward," adding “The last word has not been said. Today is not just about Mr. Olmert. We will read the 700-page decision and prepare accordingly for sentencing.”
The amount involved in the case was reportedly NIS 500,000 (about £86,457 ) and gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars.
* Jerusalem Building Project at the centre of Monday's Decision.
Monday’s conviction was not Olmert’s first as the former prime minister was sentenced by the Jerusalem District Court in September 2012, although the conviction was subjected to a suspended year-long jail term and a NIS 75,000 (about £12,968) fine. The conviction was said to be for a breach-of-trust charge in an Investment Center scandal.
Monday's conviction was centered around the Holyland housing development, a huge hilltop project in Jerusalem.
* Follow me on Twitter(follow): @bensonagoha and @woolwichonline.
* Photo and Story Credit: Ben Kelmer/Flash90/ToI.
It is not clear if the verdict will be contested by Olmert whose attorneys refused to give immediate comment, but sentencing will take place at a later date.
Roy Blecher, defence attorney to Olmert said “We will weigh our options going forward," adding “The last word has not been said. Today is not just about Mr. Olmert. We will read the 700-page decision and prepare accordingly for sentencing.”
The amount involved in the case was reportedly NIS 500,000 (about £86,457 ) and gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars.
* Jerusalem Building Project at the centre of Monday's Decision.
Monday’s conviction was not Olmert’s first as the former prime minister was sentenced by the Jerusalem District Court in September 2012, although the conviction was subjected to a suspended year-long jail term and a NIS 75,000 (about £12,968) fine. The conviction was said to be for a breach-of-trust charge in an Investment Center scandal.
Monday's conviction was centered around the Holyland housing development, a huge hilltop project in Jerusalem.
* Photo and Story Credit: Ben Kelmer/Flash90/ToI.
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