Former prime minister Ehud Olmert Monday said that he is leaving court standing tall after avoiding prison time or community service in a conviction for breach of public trust. The court sentenced him to a one-year suspended sentence and fined him NIS 75,300.
"A few weeks ago I told the judges that I wanted to leave court standing tall, and today I leave court standing tall," Olmert said following the sentencing hearing in the Investment Center Affair.
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"I learned the lessons of the conviction," Olmert added.
The sentencing is for the one minor crime Olmert was convicted of in his Jerusalem District Court corruption trial – breach of public trust in the Investment Center Affair.
The suspended sentence is conditional on Olmert not committing the same crime in the next three years.
Reading their ruling in the sentencing, the judges noted that Olmert improperly favored Uri Messer four times.
Olmert was acquitted in July of all serious crimes involving significant prison time in a host of affairs.
The state recommended the court hand down a six month sentence.
The court gave former Olmert aide Shula Zaken a nine-month suspended sentence.
The State Attorney’s Office shocked the country in sidestepping the issue of moral turpitude and suggesting to the court that the issue could be left on the back burner until and if Olmert ever decides to make a political comeback.
A finding of moral turpitude would have essentially ended Olmert’s political career since it prohibits participation in politics for seven years and Olmert will turn 67 on September 30.
"A few weeks ago I told the judges that I wanted to leave court standing tall, and today I leave court standing tall," Olmert said following the sentencing hearing in the Investment Center Affair.
Related:
"I learned the lessons of the conviction," Olmert added.
The sentencing is for the one minor crime Olmert was convicted of in his Jerusalem District Court corruption trial – breach of public trust in the Investment Center Affair.
The suspended sentence is conditional on Olmert not committing the same crime in the next three years.
Reading their ruling in the sentencing, the judges noted that Olmert improperly favored Uri Messer four times.
Olmert was acquitted in July of all serious crimes involving significant prison time in a host of affairs.
The state recommended the court hand down a six month sentence.
The court gave former Olmert aide Shula Zaken a nine-month suspended sentence.
The State Attorney’s Office shocked the country in sidestepping the issue of moral turpitude and suggesting to the court that the issue could be left on the back burner until and if Olmert ever decides to make a political comeback.
A finding of moral turpitude would have essentially ended Olmert’s political career since it prohibits participation in politics for seven years and Olmert will turn 67 on September 30.