Jerusalem, July 10 (ANI): Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has been acquitted of two major corruption charges, but convicted of a third, lesser charge.
The Jerusalem district court cleared Olmert on charges of receiving cash-stuffed envelopes and falsely billing trips abroad multiple times.
He was, however, convicted of granting favours to a former colleague during his time as a minister, The Herald Sun reports.
Olmert will face a second trial over allegations he accepted bribes during his time as Jerusalem mayor to smooth the way for the construction of the massive Holyland residential complex in the city.
According to the report, he was also accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jewish-American businessman Morris Talanski, in return for promoting his companies in Israel.
But his acquittal on the most serious charges against him in this trial, including the allegations that forced him to resign from his post as prime minister in 2008, is seen as a victory for the former leader.
Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003 after which he served as a cabinet minister, holding the trade and industry portfolio as well as several others, before becoming premier in 2006. (ANI)
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