Trial of former Israeli PM to begin in late September

The trial of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's alleged corruption cases is set to begin on Sept. 29, Israeli Justice Ministry announced on Monday.

Olmert, the first premier to stand trial in Israel's history, was indicted late last month in three corruption cases, all of which date back to his terms as Jerusalem mayor and trade minister before he became prime minister in 2006.

Suspicions against him include accepting money from a U.S. businessman, double-billing non-profit and state agencies for the same trips abroad and arranging investment opportunities in favor of a former confidant. He was charged with fraud, breach of trust and failure to report income.

The beleaguered former leader, who was forced to resign last year in the midst of a series of corruption and fraud probes against him, denies any wrongdoing and has vowed to prove his innocence in court.