The plea bargain agreement signed between Ehud Olmert and the prosecution was rejected by the Jerusalem District Court Justice Avital Chen on Wednesday morning, 1 Adar I. The agreement addressed Olmert admitting to two counts of obstructing justice in the hope of a reduced prison term. The court’s decision not to accept the agreement adds an additional month to his sentence and he is now expected to serve 18 months in prison.

In the previous hearing, Chen was critical of the sentence according to the agreement, citing it was too light for a former prime minister convicted of such crimes.

Has the Jerusalem District Court accepted the agreement, Olmert would have served six months in jail, which would be concurrent to his 8-month sentence in another case. The lower court agreed to permit Olmert to serve five of those six months concurrently.

If there are no last-minute changes, Olmert enters prison on 6 Adar I 5776 (February 15, 2016), and he is also required to pay a NIS 60,000 fine. He is expected to be serving his sentence in relative luxury, in Bloc 10 in Massiyahu Prison, a white collar facilty that was remodeled as per instructions from the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet). He will not have a private cell however, but compelled to share with two other inmates and will be permitted visitors once in two weeks.

The bloc that will accommodate the former Prime Minister houses ten cells with three inmates in each. Each cell has a TV and the bloc has a clubhouse and canteen. Prisoners may also subscribe to newspapers should they wish to do so and are permitted to wear regular civilian clothing. However, they must wear orange prison jumpsuits during visits.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)