Olmert requests early release
The legal team of the former prime minister convicted and imprisoned for bribery has officially submitted a request for early release to the parole board of the Israel Prison Service; Supreme Court is expected to approve request.
A request by former Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, to shorten the length of his year-and-a-half sentence for bribery by a third is set to be discussed during a parole board of the Prison Service meeting which will be convened on December 25.
Olmert, who began serving his sentence in February, is entitled under Prison Service procedures to a hearing on early release and shortening of his sentence by a third, which would move his release to February 2017. As such, Olmert's lawyers submitted the request and until the parole board is convened, all relevant officials will offer their opinions as to whether Olmert meets the criteria for early release or not.
The State Attorney is expected not to oppose the early release. A legal source on Wednesday said that Olmert does meet the criteria for early release, in that he is a nonviolent offender, has shown remorse for his crimes and has demonstrated good behavior during his incarceration. The same source also stressed that the majority of white-collar offenders are released after only serving two-thirds of their sentences.
In the coming weeks, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the appeal filed by the state and Olmert against the 8 month sentence imposed on Shula Zaken following the exposure of tapes related to the Talansky affair.
