From Prime Minister to Prisoner.
That is the story of former Israeli Prime Minster, Ehud Olmert, who started a 19 month jail term for corruption on Monday.
This makes him the first head of government in Israel, to go to prison.
In a video broadcast from his home in Jerusalem, just before he arrived at the prison gate, Olmert described the change as a painful one, while maintaining his innocence.
"As prime minister I was charged with the highest responsibility of safeguarding the security of Israel's citizens. Today I am the one to be locked behind bars. You can surely imagine how painful and strange this change is for me, my family and loved ones. At this time it is important for me to say once more as I did in court and outside it that I totally deny the bribery charges I was accused of," he said.
In 2014, Olmert was convicted of bribery charges, related to his 1992-2003 term, as Jerusalem's mayor and real estate deals in the city.
A separate eight-month prison term is pending, in another corruption case.
Ehud Olmert was prime minister from 2006 to 2009 and was internationally credited with working towards a peace settlement with the Palestinians, until graft scandals forced him to step down.
"I hope that in the future many will acknowledge that during my term as prime minister sincere promising attempts were made to provide hope for a better future of peace happiness and prosperity," Olmert stated.
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