Ex-Prime Minster of
Israel, Ehud Olmert began serving his 19-month prison sentence on Monday making
him the first Israeli head of government to do so. Olmert was sentenced for
bribery and obstruction of justice and will remain at the Ma’asiyahu prison
near Tel Aviv.
Hours before entering the prison,
Olmert released a video message saying that he "rejects outright" the
bribery charges he has been convicted of. "When I was prime
minister, I was given the highest responsibility of safeguarding the security
of the citizens of Israel and today it is I who am about to be locked up behind
bars," he said in the video message, calling the experience "painful
and strange". He has admitted that he "made mistakes", but
said these were "not criminal", and denied having taken
bribes. "Life is offering me today no simple test. I go towards it
with great sadness," he further added.
The 70-year-old politician, who
served as the Prime Minister for the country for three years from 2006 to 2009,
was convicted in March 2014 in a case that accused him of accepting bribes to
promote a controversial real-estate project in Jerusalem. The charges were
filed against him at a time when he was the mayor and trade minister of
Jerusalem, years before he became Israel’s Prime Minister.
A special wing has been set up for
him by the Israel Prison Service at the
Ma'asiyahu Prison complex in Ramle. Wing 10, where he will be
held, is a self-contained section, which will reportedly supply all prisoners'
needs, including visits, medical care, education and therapy. The wing has
six cells with three beds each. Each cell has a shower and bathroom, a closet,
a table and chairs and a television, quite fancy for any other ordinary
prisoner.
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