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Former Israeli PM Olmert sentenced after fraud trial

It was his second conviction on corruption charges.

By Ed Adamczyk
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at his trial for corruption in 2014. He received an eight-month prison sentence, and a fine, Monday. File Photo by UPI/Jack Guez.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at his trial for corruption in 2014. He received an eight-month prison sentence, and a fine, Monday. File Photo by UPI/Jack Guez. | License Photo

JERUSALEM, May 25 (UPI) -- Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to an eight-month prison term Monday, after his March fraud re-trial and conviction.

Olmert, 69, was Israel's prime minister from 2006 to 2009. He was convicted of fraud, breach of trust and receiving illicit benefits for accepting campaign contributions, regarded as bribes, from Morris Talansky, an American backer. The sentence includes a $25,000 fine and a suspended sentence of an additional eight months.

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In 2014 Olmert received a six-year sentence for taking bribes from real estate developers while mayor of Jerusalem during the 1990s. He has denied any wrongdoing and has appealed both cases; thus far he has not spent any time in jail, and has referred to the trials as a "brutal, ruthless witch hunt."

The earlier court action forced him to resign as prime minister, which finished his political career and disrupted Israel's peace process with Palestine.

At Olmert's sentencing Monday, the Jerusalem District Court acknowledged his contributions to Israel, but said "a black flag hangs over his conduct."

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