Israel Ex-PM Olmert Faces Corruption Trial

Olmert stands accused of fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records, and failing to declare income. He denies the charges. Photo by BGNES

The trial of the former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, on corruption charges has begun in Jerusalem.

Olmert stands accused of fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records, and failing to declare income. He denies the charges.

It all relates to the periods when Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem, and a cabinet minister, but before he became the Israeli Prime Minister in 2006, the BBC reported.

"I came here as an innocent man and I believe I will leave here as an innocent man", he said.

His lawyers have described the prosecution case as ridiculously weak.

Ehud Olmert was forced to resign September 2009 over allegations that include taking hundreds of thousands of USD in cash payments from an American businessman, Moshe Talanksy.

It is alleged the funds were used to fund Olmert's election campaign when he was mayor of Jerusalem, but he insists he never took a penny for himself.

The prosecution also alleges that Ehud Olmert defrauded a number of Israeli charities, including Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial.

The prosecution will state Olmert charged Israeli charities USD 92 000 for business travel which had already been paid for by the government.

The money was allegedly kept in a secret account by the Rishon Tours travel agency and used to pay for the Olmert family's holidays.

Some reports estimate that the case may last as long as four years. If found guilty Olmert faces a lengthy prison term.

Ehud Olmert became prime minister in May 2006, after serving a number of months as acting prime minister following the stroke and subsequent coma of then PM, Ariel Sharon.

 

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