A Tel Aviv court sentenced former Israeli finance minister Avraham Hirchson to five and a half years imprisonment Wednesday, after he was found guilty two weeks ago of embezzlement.Hirchson was also ordered to pay a 450,000-shekel (114,000-dollar) fine.
Hirchson had been indicted on multiple counts of larceny, executive theft, fraud, breach of trust, illicitly obtaining funds, money laundering and falsifying corporate documents, for allegedly embezzling about 4 million shekels (over 1.2 million dollars) during his tenure as head of the National Federation of Workers (NFW) between 1998 and 2005.
He received monthly payments of 25,000 shekels (6,200 dollars) for expenses, as well as large sums of money for trips abroad, medicines, holiday "bonuses," and for political activity that included two primary campaigns for the Likud party. The NFW also paid more than 120,000 shekels (30,000 dollars) for Hirchson's restaurant bill for meals on the weekends, when he was not working, and in parliament.
Prosecutors said Hirchson used the money to pay off large debts accumulated by his son. During the trial Hirchson at first denied the accusations, then expressed regret, then tried to portray himself as a victim. The judge however refused to accept his explanations. On Tuesday Hirchson returned 570,000 shekels (145,000 dollars) in cash to the NFW, as well as 1.16 million shekels (294,000 dollars) in checks.
The 68-year-old former finance minister is one of several high- profile Israeli politicians under police investigation or on trial. Former president Moshe Katsav is currently on trial over allegations of rape, sexual harassment and committing an indecent act.
Former premier Ehud Olmert also faces possible incitement on charges of fraud, breach of public trust and receiving illicit funds, much of it in cash, from a US businessman, and for having multiple- billed travel expenses while serving in public office in the years before he was elected premier in March 2006. And Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is currently being investigated by police on suspicions of money-laundering, bribe- taking, fraud and breach of trust.