JERUSALEM, Israel – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert entered the Ma'asiyahu Prison on Monday, where he begins serving a 19-month sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice.
Before his incarceration, Olmert, 70, posted a video blog in which he said he had never taken bribes or done anything of a criminal nature while serving as an elected official.
Olmert is the first prime minister to be convicted and sentenced to prison for corruption.
Over a seven-year period, Olmert faced six separate criminal investigations for bribery and breach of public trust, among other charges. He was acquitted of one bribery charge that could have sent him to jail for six years.
In the end, he was found guilty of criminal behavior while serving as mayor of Jerusalem during the construction of a massive apartment complex called the Holyland Project near Jerusalem's Malka Mall. Thirteen others involved with the project, including then Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky, faced bribery and corruption charges.
In 2009, Olmert felt compelled to resign the premiership and deal with trying to prove his innocence.
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