Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been found guilty of bribery by an Israeli court.

He was convicted on Monday morning after an investigation into his role in the so-called “Holyland affair”, in which bribes were received to speed up the development of luxury properties, during his time as mayor of Jerusalem.

The case forced the 68-year-old former Kadima party leader, who denied any wrongdoing, to resign from his post in 2008.

Judge David Rozen, delivering the verdict at the Tel Aviv court, said the case has “exposed governancy that grew more corrupt and rotten over the years”, according to a report on Associated Press.

Prior to the conviction, Mr Olmert – who was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993-2003 - hinted at a political comeback.