(JNS.org) Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was convicted by an Israeli court Monday on charges related to bribes he took as part of a real-estate deal.
According to the 700-page verdict issued by the Israeli Justice Department, Olmert, 68, was found guilty of two bribery charges for accepting $160,000 from the developers of the massive Holyland apartment complex in Jerusalem while he was mayor of the city more than a decade ago, Reuters reported.
Olmert resigned as prime minister in 2008 amid a separate corruption scandal. He was later acquitted of most of the charges in that case.
The verdict represents the first time a former Israeli prime minister has been convicted of bribery and will likely end speculation that Olmert will seek public office again. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for late April.