The Parole Board on Monday approved the early release of former Bank Hapoalim chairman Dan Dankner, who in 2013 was convicted of a series of conflict of interest violations during his time as head of the bank. Following a protracted legal battle, the Supreme Court in June of last year cut his original 12 month prison sentence to 8 months, which he began serving in November. The early release means that he will be released in the coming weeks. In December 2013 the Tel Aviv District Court handed down a one year sentence against Dankner, after he agreed to a plea bargain that removed the more serious charges of money-laundering, impure ethical practices and harming the bank's interests. Under the deal, he agreed to pay a NIS 1 million penalty. The case revolved around a series of incidents in which he withheld the fact that he had partnerships with other parties that had dealings with the bank.
