Ehud Olmert before he entered court last Wednesday where he was sentenced on corruption charges (Reuters)
The former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has begun a 19 month jail sentence after he was convicted of charges relating to receiving several bribes.
He will be placed in a white collar prison and will join the former Israeli president Moshe Katsav who is serving a 7 year prison sentence for sexually assaulting on women who worked with him in various ministries. Other prisoners there include a judge, a deputy mayor, big business men and well known clergymen. The wing in which “he may stay” has a number of former ministers who were convicted of similar charges. However, the level of protection that Olmert will receive will be the highest in the history of the prison service because he was the fomer prime minister of the government and therefore knows many state secrets. It is feared that he will be kidnapped by people who want to find out these secrets. He will also be accompanied by a guard 24 hours a day to prevent him from committing suicide.
Olmert, who is considered one of the most successful and effective prime ministers by Israelis, and was prime minister from 2006 to 2009, will be placed in section 10 of Ma’asiyahu Prison. According to a prison service source, Olmert will be moved to a normal prison where 24,000 prisoners and detainees are held in Israel. He will wave goodbye to the Shabak guards who accompanied him over the years. His luggage will be inspected and he will be subjected to physical inspections after which he will be driven to the Ma’asiyahu Prison where he will spend his 19 month sentence.
The prison service has recently conducted a series of renovations in this section specifically in honour of Olmert; he will have a room for study, a TV and newspapers. He will also be able to receive visitors in the private visitors’ room and meet his lawyer in a private room set up for this purpose. The section will also contain a synagogue, a library and sports equipment to maintain fitness.