Jerusalem: Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert is due to appear in court today after being indicted on three counts of corruption, the first ex-premier to face criminal charges.
"The session is due to start in Jerusalem district court on Friday morning," at 8:00 am (0530 GMT), justice ministry spokesman Moshe Cohen told reporters.
Olmert, who will be 64 next Wednesday, was indicted on three counts of corruption on August 30, the latest in a long list of Israeli politicians who have fallen foul of the law.
The 61-page charge sheet includes allegations of "fraud, breach of trust, registering false corporate documents and concealing fraudulent earnings."
All the charges concern actions Olmert allegedly took before he became prime minister in May 2006, first as mayor of Jerusalem and later as trade and industry minister.
Olmert has insisted on his innocence although he resigned under pressure last September. He remained in office as caretaker until late March when hardliner Benjamin
Netanyahu, elected in February, was sworn in.
Bureau Report
