The district court will decide on the sentence of the former mayor of Ashkelon who was convicted of bribery, breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses • The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence of about seven years
Itamar Shimoni
Photography:
Gideon Markovich
Today (Sunday) the Tel Aviv District Court will decide what punishment will be imposed on the former mayor of Ashkelon, Itamar Shimoni, who was convicted of accepting bribes, breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses. And preventing negative coverage of a local news site.
The prosecution asked the court to impose on Shimoni, an actual imprisonment of six years and another ten months.
This is after according to the indictment filed against Shimoni about four years ago, Shimoni promoted the interests of businessmen in the city of Ashkelon, in order to find funding for the mayor to pay silence compensation for two women who raised allegations of sexual assault against him.
Shimoni was accused of accepting a bribe of NIS 466,000 and breach of trust, by receiving an additional NIS 575,000 for being mayor, mostly from unknown sources and in a way hidden from the public eye, without clarifying the source of the funds.
He was also charged with tax offenses.
Shimoni was convicted along with his brother Ofer of taking bribes together, and Davidi of giving a bribe, in relation to the sum of NIS 150,000.
Shimoni and his brother were also convicted in connection with this offense of money laundering.
Shimoni, Ofer and Davidi were acquitted of taking and giving bribes in connection with the actual business relationship between Davidi and Ofer, but convicted Shimoni only, instead of the bribery offense, of breach of trust due to a conflict of interest in this context.
"I was convinced that Davidi, as an Ashkelonite entrepreneur with many interests in the city, and as one who needed the municipality and the mayor, took direct and indirect approaches to Shimoni. And a direct access and communication channel for senior decision-makers in the municipality, headed by the mayor, and to bring about a detour or incitement of the executive and professionals in the municipality to advance his entrepreneurial and business interests. He is committed to Davidi both because of the friendship between them, and because of the livelihood he earned from his activities with Davidi. "
Written in the verdict.
Shimoni petitioned the High Court against his conviction and argued that the verdict against him was given without authority, but Justices Anat Baron, Uzi Vogelman and David Mintz rejected Shimoni's petition. That began.
It is difficult for the judge to serve three years as a result of the hearing in the case, but this should not lead to the revocation of the verdict. "The court's decision added:" The judge was authorized to terminate and the petitioner's claims should be rejected.