The Israeli District Court in Jerusalem sentenced, Monday, former Israeli Prime Minister and former Jerusalem Mayor, Ehud Olmert, to a one-year suspended sentence and a NIS 75.000 fine after convicting him of betraying public trust in an investment case.The court turned down an indictment filed by the prosecution demanding imprisoning Olmert for six months for betraying public trust, and sentenced Shola Zakin, former head of Olmert’s office, to nine months in suspended sentence and a NIS 40.000 fine.
The ruling allows Olmert to return to political life, and even run for future elections, including Knesset elections.
Israeli sources reported that the judges used “harsh words against Olmert for his violations”, but still “took into consideration the suffering he encountered due to charges that he faced and was acquitted from”.
The Arabs48 news website reported that one of the judges even took into consideration the fact that Olmert “had to quit his post as Prime Minister”.
The Israeli prosecution is yet to decide whether to appeal the court’s ruling in the coming weeks.
On August 30, 2009, Olmert faced an indictment at the District Court in Jerusalem; the indictment included five counts; obtaining by fraud under aggravating circumstances, fraud, breach of trust, tax evasion, and falsifying corporate documents.
On July 2012, Olmert was convicted of one count of breach of trust and was acquitted and was acquitted on two counts of fraud.
