Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was released from prison on Sunday, after serving 16.5 months out of the 27-month sentences. He was sentenced by the court for corruption, reported the newspaper Haaretz. Israeli Prison Service spokesman Assaf Librati confirmed his release.
Last week, Olmert was hospitalized with complaints of the chest pain. During the hospitalization, which lasted several days, many Israeli politicians appealed for the early release of the 71-year-old former Prime Minister, reminding his services to the state.
The parole board appointed him a rehabilitation program, details of which have not been disclosed yet.
After his release, Olmert is required to report to the police department once every two weeks. In addition, the former Head Of Government will work in two charitable organizations (Ezra Lemarpeh and Leket Israel) that deal with the distribution of food and medicine to the poor people.
Earlier, after the preliminary rejection of Olmert's request for pardon, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin had stated that he would consider the issue of early release if Olmert sent such a request.
Olmert is the first Jewish state's PM who went to jail
Last Thursday, the Israel parole commission on the administration of prisons satisfied the petition of the ex-Prime Minister about his early release from prison, where he had been staying since February 15, 2016.
The 12th Prime Minister of the Jewish state, Ehud Olmert became the first former head of government in the history of Israel who went to jail.
Olmert served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009. In 2014, he was sentenced to six years in imprisonment for taking bribes and trying to mislead justice. In 2015, this period was reduced to one and a half years.
Olmert also served as Mayor of Jerusalem, Minister of Finance and Minister of Trade and Industry of Israel in different years.
Olmert took $500 thousand bribe
The cases of corruption against Olmert were first opened in 2007, a year after he headed the government. He resigned in September 2008 but served as head of the Cabinet until March 2009.
27 months of Olmert's sentence included a year and a half for bribery, eight months for abuse of trust and fraud, and one month for obstruction of justice.
The investigation into the bribery case began on April 15, 2010. Olmert was charged with receiving bribes in the amount of $500 thousand for permission to build a housing complex "Holy Island" in Jerusalem.
