Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has been granted parole after serving 16 months out of a 27-month sentence for corruption and bribery.

The parole board has reduced his sentence by a third, a common move in cases involving non-violent crimes.

The 71-year-old was prime minister from 2006 until 2009, when he resigned after charges were brought against him.

Olmert was found guilty in 2014 of accepting bribes from real estate developers during his decade as mayor of Jerusalem.

He was one of eight former officials and businessmen who were convicted in March 2014 in the Holyland real estate corruption case, and the first Israeli prime minister to have been sent to prison.

In 2015 he was also convicted of fraud and breach of trust in a separate case also relating to his time as Jerusalem mayor.

His lawyer stated that under the terms of his parole, he will volunteer at two Israeli charities, despite being technically  exempt because of his age. He is expected to be freed on Sunday.