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| Israel ex-PM's graft trial begins | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The trial of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges has begun in Jerusalem. | The trial of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges has begun in Jerusalem. |
| Mr Olmert stands accused of fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records and failing to declare income. He denies the charges. | Mr Olmert stands accused 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. |
| As he arrived in court, Mr Olmert insisted he was not guilty. | |
| "I came here as an innocent man and I believe I will leave here as an innocent man," he said. | |
| Mr Olmert said he had been subjected to "an almost inhumane campaign of mudslinging and inquiries" for the past three years. | |
| His 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 Corruption allegations Olmert talks to BBC Profile: Ehud Olmert | 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 Corruption allegations Olmert talks to BBC 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. | 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. |