- Title: Former Israeli PM Olmert freed early from prison
- Date: 2nd July 2017
- Summary: RAMLE, ISRAEL (JULY 2, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PRISON PRISON SIGN
- Embargoed: 16th July 2017 05:59
- Keywords: Israel former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert prison release
- Location: RAMLE AND TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- City: RAMLE AND TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016O0W6DJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, 71, was released on parole on Sunday (July 2) from a prison in Ramle, near Tel Aviv, after serving 16 months in jail for corruption.
Olmert was found guilty in 2014 of accepting bribes from real estate developers when he was Jerusalem's mayor, before his 2006-09 term as prime minister and head of a centrist political party.
On Sunday, a parole board decided to cut short his 27-month term, a common practice in Israel for prisoners who have not committed violent crimes. Olmert, accompanied by a government bodyguard, made no comment to reporters as he left.
The corruption allegations led to Olmert's resignation as prime minister in September 2008. He stayed in office in a caretaker capacity until a February 2009 election brought right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu to power. His original six-year sentence - the judge in the case said his corruption offences were tantamount to "treason" - was cut to 18 months on appeal, but another month was later tagged on over obstruction of justice charges. Olmert's term was ultimately lengthened to 27 months after he was convicted in a separate case involving cash payments from a U.S. businessman. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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