Last week district court in Israel issued its verdicts (no juries here) on three corruption-related charges against former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
He was acquitted on two, convicted on one - "Breach of Loyalty" (similar to Honest Services Fraud in the United States). He is not likely to be sentenced to prison.
In the course of the prosecution it was established by the court that in Olmert's offices a Cash Enterprise was conducted, where influential figures delivered large sums of cash in envelopes, which were handled by Olmert's secretary and his personal counsel.
The secretary declined to take the stand, and is separately prosecuted. Key prosecution witness got confused and forgetful.
One thing is clear: Of the sums, which were determined to have been received by the Cash Enterprise, some $450,000 vanished into thin air.
Legal experts continue to debate the merits of the conviction/acquittals.
To this sometimes criminology expert, it sounds like a classic Italian Mafia trial, only this time it is Organized State Crime.
And the Spin...
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Olmert acquitted of central corruption charges
By YONAH JEREMY BOB07/11/2012 01:38
Former PM quotes Begin: There are judges in Jerusalem...
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