Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., April 28, 2008 Nisan 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:42 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 18:03 28/04/2008 Knesset suspends Benizri over conviction on charges involving moral turpitude By Tomer Zarchin, Yair Ettinger and Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: shas, Knesset, benizri Shas MK Shlomo Benizri's was suspended from the Knesset Monday following his conviction Sunday on corruption charges that involve moral turpitude. He will be replaced in the Knesset by the next in line on Shas'list. Benizri's attorney, Moshe Itzhak Osditcher, had requested that the Knesset reverse the finding of moral turpitude, arguing that the court's finding is not unequivocal. Jerusalem District Court Judge Jacob Zaban Sunday sentenced Benizri to 18 months in prison, 8 months suspended sentence and a fine of NIS 80,000, and further determined that his acts involved moral turpitude. Advertisement Benizri's political and spiritual patron, Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, was handed a suspended sentence of eight months in prison and a fine of NIS 120,000. The state prosecutor will apparently appeal the 18-month sentence handed down to Shas MK Shlomo Benizri for corruption, a senior justice official said Sunday. The verdict itself, in which Benizri was acquitted of the indictment's major bribery charges, may also be appealed. In early April, the court ruled that Benizri had received hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of services from contractor Moshe Sela, while serving as health minister, deputy health minister and labor and welfare minister, between 1996 and 2001. In addition to receiving bribes, Benizri was convicted of breach of faith, conspiracy to commit a crime and obstruction of justice. Rabbi Elbaz was convicted of acting as the go-between in the bribery cases and of conspiracy to commit a crime. Benizri was acquitted of other charges, including receiving monthly payments and a one time payment of $200,000 from Sela, who turned state witness. In sentencing Benizri, the judge noted mitigating circumstances, including his conviction of offenses far less than those of which he was accused, the lengthy investigation, and the "pre-judgment" as he put it, of Benizri in the media. The State Prosecutor's Office, in a meeting before Passover, had requested a seven-year sentence for Benizri, a higher fine and a finding of moral turpitude, and was reportedly surprised by the lesser sentence, as well as the suspended sentence for Elbaz. In the presentation of arguments during the sentencing phase of the trial, Jerusalem district prosecutor Nurit Litman said the case was without precedent because of Benizri's status. "We believe a more severe punishment should have been given in light of the findings in the verdict and in light of the remarks in the sentence," Litman said after the sentencing, adding that the State Prosecutor's Office would be considering shortly whether to appeal. Benizri told Israel Radio after Sunday's conviction that he was the victim of a "witch hunt" and proclaimed his innocence. He also said that he would appeal the sentence to the High Court. Benizri's attorney, Moshe Itzhak Osditcher, said Sunday: "This is a gigantic failure of the state prosecutor, in light of the fact that the case has been going on for years and due to the resources invested in a huge investigation, with the case being defined by the state prosecutor as the biggest bribery case ever. I am sure we'll be exonerated by the High Court," he added. Shas chairman Minister Eli Yishai was present in the courtroom as the sentence was read. Yishai said he would be praying for Benizri's appeal before the High Court and believed in his innocence. Behind closed doors, there has been criticism over the past month in Shas for the garbled support given to Benizri during the trial. Benizri said yesterday that he had not sought public support from Shas. Related articles: The Benizri conviction / The Israeli Godfather News / Shas MK Shlomo Benizri convicted in major corruption scandal Bookmark to del.icio.us   Obscene gestures Alleged 'Heil Hitler' comment lands German lawyer Horst Mahler in court Researching bacon Lahav's pig breeding gained widespread notoriety because of its legal loophole.   1.   THE STATE PROSECUTOR WILL NOT APPEAL!! 19:49  |  Robert 28/04/08   2.   The witch complains of witch-hunting... 21:35  |  Ulf 28/04/08

Read & React Burston: Our Defense Forces, our war crimes, our terrorism Responses: 116 Israel: UNIFIL hiding info about Hezbollah from Security Council Responses: 157 Barak: Hamas is to blame for deaths in the Gaza Strip Responses: 440 Settlers to move into East Jerusalem police HQ compound Responses: 62 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guest, Ziad Asali: Abbas left Washington less than satisfied Aipac case appeal: June 2nd (WTR) McCain, a foreign-policy schizophrenic (WTR) Poll: Will the new spy case harm U.S.-Israel ties? More Headlines 21:57 IDF: Gaza blast was caused by militants' explosives 22:26 Lebanese army: 12 IAF jets fly over Beirut, Lebanese areas 21:01 Video shows how AMOS-3 communications satellite was sent into orbit 22:17 Four wheels and an electronic brain: Meet IDF's newest soldier 20:12 Turkish FM: Mediation efforts aimed at direct Syria-Israel talks 15:40 Palestinian court sentences accused collaborator to death 17:20 Palestinian militant groups head to Cairo for Gaza truce talks 20:51 Alleged 'Heil Hitler' comment lands German lawyer in court 21:59 Gaza militants pound Negev with Qassams and mortar shells 21:09 Bank of Israel to keep interest rates at lowest point ever through May 20:15 Israel agrees to lift key West Bank roadblock upon request from Blair 18:49 Border Police officer convicted of killing Hebron teen jailed for 6 years 18:03 Knesset suspends Benizri over conviction on charges involving moral turpitude Previous Editions Select Day 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved