Ex-Israeli PM Fined, Escapes Jail Time in Corruption Case

Posted September 24th, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will have to pay a fine but will not have to serve time in jail for his role in a corruption scandal.

A court issued the sentence Monday, ordering Olmert to pay about $18,000 for helping to steer government contracts to a former colleague while he was trade and industry minister. The court gave Olmert a one-year suspended jail sentence, meaning he will not spend any time behind bars.

Olmert was Israel's prime minister from 2006 until 2008, when the scandal caused him to resign. Olmert was acquited in July of two more serious corruption charges but still faces a second trial stemming from allegations of wrong-doing during his time as mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003.