David Rosen, a judge of the Tel Aviv District Court, has sentenced Israeli ex-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to 6 years of jail today, becoming the first Israeli prime minister to go to prison. An ex-engineer of the Jerusalem Mayor’s Office Ori Shitrit got 7 years of jail. Olmert is suspected of committing other crimes and may have his sentence extended by 2-6 years.
Suspicions that Olmert was a bribe-taker originated from the early 2000s. He was suspected of helping businessman Dudu Apel buy an island in Greece to build an international recreation center, receiving a bribe for privatization of the Israeli National Bank at a ridiculously low cost, purchasing an old house in Jerusalem as a bribe. The police lacked evidence to put Olmert behind bars.
The ex-prime minister was suspected of illegal political appointments at the Investment Center of the Ministry for Industry and Trade in 2007. U.S. businessman Morris Talansky admitted paying for Olmert’s visits to the U.S. and handing him tens of thousands of shekels the ex-PM hid from taxes.
Olmert was reported visiting the U.S. to collect donations for Israeli organizations. The costs of the visits were exaggerated and part of them were given to Rishon Tours as a bribe. The official and his family were accommodated in the best hotels.
Olmert had to resign in 2008 over the last three cases. His secretary Shula Zaken was in charge of all the money operations. She took the responsibility for the cases.
Businessman Shmuel Dechner told the police that the Holyland Hotel project with over a hundred rooms in the center of Jerusalem turned into a housing complex of skyscrapers with the help of bribes worth millions of dollars to Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, his successor Uri Lupolianski, chief engineer of the Mayor’s Office Ori Shitrit and other functionaries. Dechner gave the bribe to Zaken, a bribe of 500,000 shekels to his brother Yosi. The secretary, who had worked with Olmert for 40years, lost patience when Olmert said he was unacquainted with her and called her corrupt. As a result, she testified against her boss in exchange for 11 months of prison at best.
Prosecutors are collecting materials to prove that Olmert was pressurizing Zaken and interfering in the justice process. It is unclear whether Olmert will meet Israeli ex-President Moshe Katsav who was jailed for a sexual crime.
David Rosen, a judge of the Tel Aviv District Court, has sentenced Israeli ex-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to 6 years of jail today, becoming the first Israeli prime minister to go to prison. An ex-engineer of the Jerusalem Mayor’s Office Ori Shitrit got 7 years of jail. Olmert is suspected of committing other crimes and may have his sentence extended by 2-6 years.Suspicions that Olmert was a bribe-taker originated from the early 2000s. He was suspected of helping businessman Dudu Apel buy an island in Greece to build an international recreation center, receiving a bribe for privatization of the Israeli National Bank at a ridiculously low cost, purchasing an old house in Jerusalem as a bribe. The police lacked evidence to put Olmert behind bars.The ex-prime minister was suspected of illegal political appointments at the Investment Center of the Ministry for Industry and Trade in 2007. U.S. businessman Morris Talansky admitted paying for Olmert’s visits to the U.S. and handing him tens of thousands of shekels the ex-PM hid from taxes.Olmert was reported visiting the U.S. to collect donations for Israeli organizations. The costs of the visits were exaggerated and part of them were given to Rishon Tours as a bribe. The official and his family were accommodated in the best hotels.Olmert had to resign in 2008 over the last three cases. His secretary Shula Zaken was in charge of all the money operations. She took the responsibility for the cases.Businessman Shmuel Dechner told the police that the Holyland Hotel project with over a hundred rooms in the center of Jerusalem turned into a housing complex of skyscrapers with the help of bribes worth millions of dollars to Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, his successor Uri Lupolianski, chief engineer of the Mayor’s Office Ori Shitrit and other functionaries. Dechner gave the bribe to Zaken, a bribe of 500,000 shekels to his brother Yosi. The secretary, who had worked with Olmert for 40years, lost patience when Olmert said he was unacquainted with her and called her corrupt. As a result, she testified against her boss in exchange for 11 months of prison at best.Prosecutors are collecting materials to prove that Olmert was pressurizing Zaken and interfering in the justice process. It is unclear whether Olmert will meet Israeli ex-President Moshe Katsav who was jailed for a sexual crim
