Video Related To: Ehud Olmert

The not-guilty verdict of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has sent shock waves through Israel's political and legal establishment, as he was acquitted for two high-profile corruption cases that also saw him ousted from his position. The Jerusalem District Court judgment immediately raised questions about the decision to prosecute and made speculations regarding his comeback. Olmert was acquitted for illegal acceptance of funds through envelopes from the Jewish-American businessman Morris Talansky, and of double-billing Jewish groups for the cost of trips abroad while mayor of the city and later, during his tenure as Industry and Trade Minister. Olmert was convicted for granting job appointments and contracts to clients of Uri Messer, a lawyer and close associate, when Olmert was Industry and Trade Minister. He will be sentenced in September, though his lawyer insisted after the hearing that there was no precedent for a jail term on a single charge of breach of trust. The former Prime Minister would still remain unclear of charges as he is still on trial for taking bribes to favour the construction of the huge and much criticised Holyland residential complex while he was mayor of Jerusalem. After he left the court with a smile, Olmert stated, "There was no corruption. There was no taking of money. There was no use of money. There were no cash envelopes. There was nothing of what they tried to attribute to me." "The Israeli public finally understands that a prime <b>...</b>