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| Olmert corruption trial begins | Olmert corruption trial begins |
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| The trial of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges is to begin in Jerusalem. | The trial of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges is to begin in Jerusalem. |
| Mr Olmert stands accused in Jerusalem of fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records and failing to declare income. He denies the charges. | Mr Olmert stands accused in Jerusalem of fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records and failing to declare income. He denies the charges. |
| It all relates to the periods when Mr Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister, but before he became the Israeli prime minister in 2006. | It all relates to the periods when Mr Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister, but before he became the Israeli prime minister in 2006. |
| Mr Olmert's lawyers have described the prosecution case as ridiculously weak. | Mr Olmert's lawyers have described the prosecution case as ridiculously weak. |
| Ehud Olmert was forced to resign last September over allegations that include taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments from an American businessman, Moshe Talanksy. | Ehud Olmert was forced to resign last September over allegations that include taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments from an American businessman, Moshe Talanksy. |
| It is alleged the funds were used to fund Mr Olmert's election campaign when he was mayor of Jerusalem, but Mr Olmert insists he never took a penny for himself. | It is alleged the funds were used to fund Mr Olmert's election campaign when he was mayor of Jerusalem, but Mr Olmert insists he never took a penny for himself. |
| EHUD OLMERT'S POLITICAL LIFE 1993: Begins 10-year stint as mayor of Jerusalem2005: Leaves right-wing Likud party with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form Kadima2006: Takes over as leader when Ariel Sharon suffers a stroke2007: Helps re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after seven-year hiatus2008: Announces plans to resignMarch 2009: Replaced as PM by Benjamin Netanyahu href="/2/hi/middle_east/7035526.stm">Corruption allegations class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8272425.stm">Olmert talks to BBC class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/4135680.stm">Profile: Ehud Olmert | |
| The prosecution also alleges that Ehud Olmert defrauded a number of Israeli charities, including Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial. | The prosecution also alleges that Ehud Olmert defrauded a number of Israeli charities, including Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial. |
| The prosecution will state Mr Olmert charged Israeli charities $92,000 (about £60,000) for business travel which had already been paid for by the government. | The prosecution will state Mr Olmert charged Israeli charities $92,000 (about £60,000) for business travel which had already been paid for by the government. |
| The money was allegedly kept in a secret account by the Rishon Tours travel agency and used to pay for the Olmert family's holidays, says the BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem. | The money was allegedly kept in a secret account by the Rishon Tours travel agency and used to pay for the Olmert family's holidays, says the BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem. |
| He scoffed at suggestions he might go to prison. | |
| Some reports estimate that the case may last as long as four years. If found guilty Mr Olmert faces a lengthy prison term. | Some reports estimate that the case may last as long as four years. If found guilty Mr Olmert faces a lengthy prison term. |
| Ehud Olmert became prime minister in May 2006, after serving a number of months as acting prime minister following the stroke and subsequent coma of then PM, Ariel Sharon. | Ehud Olmert became prime minister in May 2006, after serving a number of months as acting prime minister following the stroke and subsequent coma of then PM, Ariel Sharon. |