Court discusses arguments for Alon Hassan's sentence: "His life has been destroyed"

During the hearing, the Prosecutor's Office sought to impose 18-9 months' imprisonment on former Ashdod Port staff members after being convicted of fraud and breach of trust. His wife contacted the judge and told how family life had changed since the acquittal was upheld:

Court discusses arguments for Alon Hassan's sentence: "His life has been destroyed"

Beersheba District Court hears Thursday on the case for sentencing in the trial of former Ashdod Port employees, Alon Hassan. The prosecutor's office is seeking to impose between 9-18 months in prison, after being convicted of two counts of fraud and breach of trust, as well as two Fraudulent offenses and breach of trust in a corporation.

Hassan's wife, Sima, addressed the judge and described the difficulties her family experienced. "Our lives were ruined. The children did not want to leave the house because they were ashamed. Painted us as the enemies of the people. What did he do? Overall, the chairman and his staff," she said.

The Supreme Court convicted Hassan after receiving the state attorney's appeal, thus reversing Hassan's acquittal in the Be'er Sheva District Court. "How happy we were after the verdict," Sima added. "I didn't believe the prosecutor's office would file an appeal. At the last minute, Alon informed me that they were filing an appeal, and I saw it go out. There's a cloud over us, above all of us, you can't return to normal life - our lives have frozen."

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The State Attorney's Office requests that he be sent to about 18 months in prison (Photo: Benny Ben Simon)

Alon Hassan, Beer Sheva District Court. May 1, 2016 (Photo: Benny Ben Simon, Walla system! NEWS)

Last week, three top judges Neil Handel, George Read and Joseph Elron, unanimously accepted the prosecution's case regarding Dana Logistics, which operated in port and Hassan's cousin, David, served as its senior manager. They stated that the fact that Hassan had issued internal documents of the port and handed them over to the company for legal action against the port - cost a breach of trust, as Hassan was aware that he was clearly in conflict of interest.

"He found himself isolated, friends kept away from him and didn't even go to the supermarket," Sima continued, "from a husband who goes to work - I got a husband who sits in an unemployed home. The children saw him despondent while he was busy 24 hours a day. Mine were on 'Hold', you can't plan anything. "

The appeal was partially accepted: Alon Hassan was convicted of fraud and breach of trust

"He found himself isolated." Ashdod port

Ashdod Port Hamel (Photo: Walla System! NEWS)

The original indictment was much more severe and attributed to Hasan and his cousin bribery offenses in numerous cases. In March 2018, the Be'er Sheva District Court acquitted the two of all offenses attributed to them - prompting the State Attorney's Office to appeal the acquittal. On appeal, the state agreed with Hassan's acquittal of the bribery charges, but sought fraudulent conviction and breach of trust in four different cases.

"When the indictment was published, we were shocked by the counts. Thief? Bribery? Criminal organization? What crime family? This is what the crime family looks like. How many forces did I need to keep the children sane, their minds and mine scarred," Sima told the judge. "We felt like the sky was falling on us," she cried. "It was difficult. The banks started to put up difficulties, stopped the credit for business, took the property, and to this day we are supported by the family."