Olmert, first former Israeli PM to be jailed for first time

Israeli former prime minister Ehud Olmert, convicted of corruption and obstruction of justice, will be sent to prison on Monday, to be the first former head of government to be jailed in the history of his country.

Olmert was sentenced to 19 months in a prison on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, where other politicians have been imprisoned, including several ministers as well as former Israeli president Moshe Katsav, who was charged with sexual offenses.

“Disappointed,” Olmert said in tears after his last hearing on Wednesday, when the judges added a month to his prison sentence for having tried to convince his secretary Shula Zaquen not to testify against him in one of his corruption trails.

Olmert was previously sentenced to 18 months in prison last December for taking bribes over the Holyland affair, complex of luxury apartments in Jerusalem which was approved during his time as mayor between 1993 and 2003.

The former prime minister, who succeeded Ariel Sharon and led Israel from 2006 to 2009, is still involved in two other cases, including the socalled Talansky case, in which he was convicted and sentenced to eight other months in prison.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court considers that Olmert stay in prison could see further extensions.

One of the main challenges facing the Israeli security bodies will be isolating the former officials from any possible extortion attempts, and to guarantee that state’s secrets in Olmert’s possession are safe.

Unlike other prisoners, Olmert will not have contact with many of the inmates.

Olmert, 70, will be placed in the socalled Ward 10 or the “VIP wing” at the Ma’asiyahu Prison.

Early on Monday, Olmert is expected to arrive to prison, where he will be reunited with Moshe Katsav to talk about their “new condition”.

Prison officials told Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot that Olmert will receive a special security treatment to ensure that he cannot escape, and for other reasons as well.

In his capacity as a former prime minister, the secret services are involved in the security around his cell, which will be equipped with a television, motion sensors in the bathroom to prevent any suicidal attempts by Olmert, as well as a guard standing in front of his cell permanently.