Former PM Olmert sentenced to six years

TEL AVIV (AP):

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging bribery case, capping a stunning fall from grace for one of the most powerful men in the country and marking the climax in a lengthy campaign against corruption in Israeli public life.

With the sentencing, Olmert became the first former Israeli prime minister to be sent to prison. He joins a former Israeli president, Cabinet minister, and several lawmakers who have all served time in recent years.

The cases have sparked shame in the country's elected officials, but also pride in its justice system, proving that no one in Israel is above the law.

Judge David Rozen, a Tel Aviv district court judge, delivered the punishment in the Jerusalem real estate scandal case, which was related to Olmert's activities before he become prime minister in 2006. Yesterday's sentencing followed a guilty verdict that was handed down by the same court in March.

"A public servant who accepts bribes is akin to a traitor," Judge David Rozen read in court.

"This is a man who was on top of the world. He served as prime minister, the most important position, and from there, he reached the position of a man convicted of criminal offences," Rozen added, referring to Olmert.

Rozen ordered Olmert and a series of other former government officials, developers and businesspeople who were also sentenced to appear before the prison service on September 1. Olmert was also fined $290,000.

The 68-year-old Olmert, who stood stoically in the courtroom in a navy blue shirt, insisted he is innocent and never took a bribe.