Former Israeli PM Olmert Avoids Extra Jail Term
Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, due to begin serving a jail term in February for corruption, struck a deal Monday with the prosecution to avoid a second term, AFP reported
Israeli public radio said that Olmert’s lawyer reached the agreement with the chief prosecutor who has accused Olmert of obstruction of justice.
Olmert had tried to persuade his former secretary Shula Zacken not to testify against him and offered her money in exchange for her silence. Zacken secretly recorded Olmert’s attempted bribery.
The prosecutor agreed Monday to allow Olmert to serve six months for obstruction of justice concurrently with his 18-month sentence for corruption.
Olmert is due to appear before the Supreme Court again on Tuesday for a separate case.
His prison term – the first time an Israeli prime minister has gone to jail – begins Feb. 15.
