Israel prosecutors seek 5 to 7 years for ex-PM Olmert

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israel’s state prosecution is seeking a jail term of five to seven years for former premier Ehud Olmert who was convicted in March of bribery, a judical source said Monday.

Olmert was convicted on March 31 on two counts of receiving bribes in connection with a sprawling Jerusalem property development, in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Israeli history.

“The state is intending to seek five to seven years of prison time for Ehud Olmert for the first count and between two and four years for the second,” a source at the justice ministry told AFP after sentencing deliberations got under way at Tel Aviv District Court.

Press reports said the prosecution was also seeking to fine Olmert 1.2 million shekels ($345,000/250,000 euros).

The 68-year-old has vowed to appeal.

The sentencing process which began on Monday is likely to last several weeks, legal sources said.