Israel’s Supreme Court Tuesday partially upheld the conviction of Ehud Olmert in the Holyland corruption trial, making history by sending the former prime minister to prison. Olmert was one of eight officials and businessmen convicted in March 2014 in a real estate corruption case called the largest in Israel’s history.

While it struck down one bribery conviction for Olmert’s part in the so-called Holyland scandal, it upheld another, reducing the former prime minister’s sentence from six years to 18 months. He and others whose convictions were upheld Tuesday will begin to serve sentences February 15.

Speaking to reporters after the decision was issued, Olmert emphasized relief over his acquittal in the more severe of the two bribery counts while maintaining his innocence in the second one as well.

“The last four years were difficult,” he said, describing “a dark cloud that hung over” him and his family, and asserting that “a heavy weight had been lifted” from his shoulders.

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