Rivlin rejects former PM Olmert's pardon request
President says his authority to grant pardons cannot be used as a form of appeal to a court's sentence, and that he would be willing to commute Olmert's sentence if a parole board grants his request for early release after serving two thirds of his time.
President Reuven Rivlin decided on Monday to reject a request for pardon by former prime minister Ehud Olmert.
In a statement from the President's Residence, Rivlin clarified that the special circumstances Olmert has brought up in his pardon request—including his change in status and the credit he deserves for serving for many years in the highest positions in Israel and contributing to the State of Israel and its security—were also considered by the court before sentencing him.
"The president's authority to grant pardons cannot be used as an appeal of the court's ruling. Therefore, the president did not find it appropriate to grant a pardon by way of an immediate release from prison," the statement continued.
Olmert could petition for early release from the parole board after serving two thirds of his sentence. Should the parole board decide to grant Olmert early release, the president will commute Olmert's sentence and reduce it by a third.
Olmert, who was convicted of bribery, fraudulently obtaining benefits and obstruction of justice, started serving his 27-months sentence in February 2016 and is expected to be released in the summer of 2018.
Olmert's legal woes
Talansky affair: Olmert was found guilty of taking hundreds of thousands of shekels for private use while serving as economy minister. Most of this money came from businessman Morris Talansky. The former prime minister didn't report the money to the state comptroller as required by law, and he was found guilty of graft in aggravating circumstances, fraud and breach of trust. He was sentenced to eight months in prison.
The Investment Center affair: This involved Olmert granting favors in his capacity as a minister to his confidant Uri Messer despite a conflict of interest. Olmert was convicted in 2012 and received a suspended sentence only. The state appealed the leniency of the sentence, but the Supreme Court rejected it.
Rishon Tours affair: This case entailed allegations that Olmert was double and triple-billing trips abroad sponsored by Jewish institutions, and either pocketed the difference or financed trips for relatives. In 2012, Olmert was acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Holyland Affair: Investigations found that during his tenure as mayor of Jerusalem, Olmert accepted bribes to overlook building codes for the construction of the Holyland buildings in the capital.
He was convicted of receiving NIS 560,000 ($160,000 US) in bribes. He was acquitted of two other charges of bribery. The judge rejected Olmert's version of events, declaring that he had lied to the court. The Tel Aviv district court sentenced him to six years in jail, but following his appeal his sentence was reduced to 18 months.
