Olmert joins the current foreign minister and a former president in facing criminal charges [EPA]

Olmert listened on Friday as parts of a 61-page charge sheet were read out, including allegations of fraud, breach of  trust, registering false corporate documents and concealing  fraudulent earnings.

The former Kadima party leader has insisted that he will not be found guilty.

"I am innocent, and I am certain the court will clear me of any suspicions," he said as he entered the courtroom.

"It is not an easy day for me. for the past three years I have  been the target of an almost inhuman defamation campaign."

All the charges concern actions Olmert allegedly took before he became prime minister in May 2006, first as mayor of Jerusalem and later as trade and industry minister.

Olmert is accused of unlawfully accepting gifts of cash-stuffed envelopes from Jewish-American businessman Morris Talansky and of multiple-billing foreign trips.

He has also been charged with cronyism in relation to an investment centre he oversaw when he was minister of trade and industry between 2003 and 2006.

Menahem Mazuz, the Israeli attorney-general, dropped three other corruption investigations. But in his final months in office, Olmert was subjected to repeated  police interrogations, which prompted a wave of calls for him to step down.

Series of scandals

Israel has been dogged by scandals involving public officials in recent years, with three former ministers handed prison sentences and both of the country's most recent former presidents resigning in disgrace.

But Olmert is the first former prime minister to face criminal charges.

In August, police recommended that Avigdor Lieberman, the current foreign minister, be indicted for bribery, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

Moshe Katsav, the former president, is on trial on several counts of rape, sexual harassment and indecent acts.

And on September 1, Avraham Hirshon and Shlomo Benizri, both ex-cabinet ministers, went to jail, the former for embezzling one million dollars and the latter for bribery and fraud.

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