Ex-Israeli PM sentenced to more jail time for corruption

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert appears in Jerusalem District Court May 25,2015. Olmert was sentenced on Monday eight months in jail for accepting illegal payments from a US businessman, having previously been given a six-year term in a separate corruption case. [Photo/Agencies]

JERUSALEM - Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to eight months in prison on Monday following his recent conviction in a Jerusalem District Court for corruption.

The new prison term will be added to another one of six years, which Olmert received in another graft case, and is set to start within 45 days. Olmert's lawyers said they will appeal the latest verdict.

Olmert was convicted in the so-called Talansky Affair in March on charges of fraud, breach of trust and aggravated fraud, after the state decided to retry the case.

Olmert had been acquitted from the affair in July 2012, but new testimony by his former aide, Shula Zaken, allowed the prosecution to retry the case.

The former prime minister was also meted a fine of $25,000 during his sentencing on Monday.

Olmert was convicted of receiving envelopes full of cash from American businessman Morris Talansky in exchange for political favors.

Yaakov Saban, one of three judges in the case, said they decided to go easy on Olmert's sentencing, taking into account Olmert's "contribution to the state" throughout the years and the hardships brought about amid years of legal tribulations. However,

he added in his decision, a prison term cannot be avoided.

The trial was reopened following the testimony of Zaken and recordings she provided of her and Olmert. Zaken became a state witness in exchange for a lighter sentence for her involvement in Olmert's affairs.

In 2014, Olmert was sentenced to six years in prison by the Tel Aviv District Court for his role in a real estate project in Jerusalem. Olmert was found guilty of taking bribes as then mayor of Jerusalem in exchange for expediting construction procedures.

Olmert, who served as prime minister between 2006 and 2009, announced his resignation in late 2008 as corruption allegations started to surface against him.