admin
The three-judge panel declared Olmert guilty of breach of trust in the so-called “Investment Centre” affair, which dates back to his term as Industry, Trade and Labour minister early in the past decade.
In that case, Olmert was charged with awarding favours, including state grants and other benefits, to Uri Messer, his friend and former partner in a private law firm.
“I respect the judgment of the court,” Olmert, the first Israeli prime minister to stand trial on criminal charges, told reporters who gathered outside the courthouse after the verdicts were handed down.
“I do not intend to thank the court for its ruling, but I do thank the judges for the respectful manner in which the trials were handled,” Olmert said, adding that he would take time to consider the verdict’s ramifications.
However, he expressed satisfaction over the judges’ unanimous acquittal in the so-called “cash envelopes” affair, which led to his resignation from the premiership in 2008.
The case centred on allegations leveled by police investigators and then-State Prosecutor Moshe Lador, that Olmert had illegally received hundreds of thousands of dollars from American Jewish businessman Morris Talansky during his previous tenure as mayor of Jerusalem.
“It seems to me that you cannot disregard the far-reaching consequences (of the acquittals) within Israel and beyond Israel regarding the conclusions, lessons and the personal responsibility that should be taken by those who made the decision (to put me on trial),” Olmert said.
In May 2008, Talansky arrived in Israel to testify as a key witness for the prosecution, claiming that he gave Olmert 150 000 US dollars out of his own pocket and speculating that some of the money went to fund Olmert’s fondness for fine hotels, first-class flights and luxury goods.
In the past, Talansky said he aided Olmert in his campaign for the Jerusalem mayoralty.
In what was dubbed the “Rishon Tours affair,” Olmert was charged with fraudulently double-billing a host of public organisations for some $90 000 for the speeches he made abroad on their behalf. The prosecution accused him of using the money to fund flights and vacations abroad for his family members.
“It was previously said that the ground would shake over this affair,” Olmert said in derisive comment to reporter.
“The court acquitted me here, too. I did not deceive any institution; not Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem) or the other charity organisations,” connected to the Rishon Tours affair.
Olmert told reporters that, “There was no corruption, no receiving or use of money; there were no ‘cash envelopes’ or any of the things connected to my name.”
Besides Olmert, the court convicted his former bureau chief and confidante, Shula Zaken, on two counts of fraud and breach of trust in the affair.
Meanwhile, despite the dramatic acquittals, Olmert is still embroiled in a battle to clear his name in an ongoing corruption trial at the Tel Aviv District Court over the Holyland Affair. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo