DHAKA: The former Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has been sentenced to six years in prison for bribery.

Olmert’s spokesperson said he would appeal to the Supreme Court and ask to be freed on bail until it had ruled. His lawyer had asked the court in Tel Aviv to give him community service, reports the BBC.

The 68-year-old was convicted in March over a real estate deal that took place while he served as mayor of Jerusalem.

Olmert would be the first former head of government in Israel to be jailed.

Judge David Rozen found him guilty of two bribery charges and said he had accepted 500,000 shekels from the developers of a luxury apartment complex, known as Holyland, and another 60,000 shekels in a separate real estate project.

Olmert served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009, until a flurry of corruption allegations led to his resignation.

He was acquitted of most of the major charges eventually brought against him by prosecutors but was also found guilty of breach of trust and given a one-year suspended jail sentence.

BDST: 1403 HRS, MAY 13, 2014