Ex-Israeli PM convicted in graft case retrial

An Israeli court on Monday found former prime minister Ehud Olmert guilty of fraud and breach of trust, two years after he was cleared in the same case.

In 2012, the Jerusalem district court acquitted Olmert of charges of fraud, tax evasion and falsifying corporate records known as the Talansky and Rishon Tours affairs, the Times of Israel reported.

The court said Olmert was guilty of fraud and breach of trust in the case, in which he was accused of accepting envelopes full of cash from American businessman and fundraiser Morris Talansky.

Olmert served as the prime minister from 2006 to 2008 before stepping down after police investigators recommended that he be indicted.

He also held several ministerial portfolios and was a mayor of Jerusalem over a decade ago.

Olmert was also found guilty on a lesser charge of breach of trust in the Investment Centre case in which he was found to have granted personal favours to attorney Uri Messer when he served as the trade minister.

Olmert was cleared of accusations of paying for family vacations by double billing Jewish organisations through the Rishon Tours travel agency. The charges were filed after he became the prime minister.