TEL AVIV, September 25 (RIA Novosti) - Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert appeared in court on Friday for preliminary hearings into his corruption case, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
Olmert submitted his resignation in September last year amid multiple corruption allegations. He was indicted, among other things, with fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records and tax evasion.
The former prime minister, the first Israeli top-level official to stand trial for such serious offenses, which were allegedly committed while in office, made a brief statement to the media before the hearings began. In his speech Olmert insisted he was innocent.
"Now is the time for facts, and only facts. I came here as an innocent person, and I believe I'll come out of here an innocent person," he said, adding that he had been subjected to "an almost inhumane campaign of mudslinging and inquiries" during the past three years.
His team of lawyers, however, expects the trial to be "long and complicated."
At the first session the court ruled to begin the case on February 22 and to hold three sessions every week.
Among other things, Olmert is accused of receiving cash payments from U.S. businessman Morris Talansky, using budget funds to pay for private trips and lobbying interests for his business partner and friend Uri Messer.
