Argentina to parole Israeli who murdered taxi driver in 1994

Moshe Ben-Ivgi, who was convicted of murdering taxi driver Derek Roth in 1994, is expected to be released from prison in Argentina in the next few days.

About three weeks ago, Argentina's Supreme Court released Ben-Ivgi from police custody after rejecting Israel's extradition appeal. In addition, the two years Ben-Ivgi had served for entering Argentina with false papers had ended.

But a few days after his release he was rearrested, following Israel's resumption of the extradition process against him.

Argentina's District Court yesterday agreed to Ben-Ivgi's request for bail. Today the court is to decide on the amount that Ben-Ivgi will pay. He is expected to be freed once he raises the money.

Ben-Ivgi was 14 when he and his friend Arbel Aloni killed Roth. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Ben-Ivgi was sentenced to an additional five years in prison for robbing a grocery store while on furlough.

Two and a half years ago, on another furlough from prison, Ben-Ivgi managed to flee to Argentina with a forged passport. He was arrested in Buenos Aires six months later, and Israel requested his extradition, although there is no extradition treaty between the two states.

The court subsequently decided that he could be extradited to Israel on condition that he only serve a maximum of five years, which was the sentence he received for robbing the grocery store - when he was already an adult.

Under Israeli law, Ben-Ivgi would have had to face another trial for fleeing. But under Argentine law, a minor aged 14 cannot be held criminally responsible for his acts.