Arms dealer to Iran, Manbar, released from prison

After serving 14 years of 16-year sentence for selling chemicals, weapons know-how, Nachum Manbar is assessed to no longer be a threat.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Nahum Manbar 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Havakuk Levison)
Nahum Manbar 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Havakuk Levison)
Nahum Manbar, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for selling chemicals to Iran and providing know-how on weaponizing them, was released Monday, after the state said Monday it would not object to his early release. Manbar has served 14 years of his 16-year sentence.
Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein told a prisoner release committee that he does not object to Manbar's early release from prison.
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Manbar was convicted in Tel Aviv District Court in 1997 of signing a contract with the Iranian government to supply it with know-how and chemicals for its military effort, and to help establish factories to produce the chemical weapons. He received $16 million in return.
These and other crimes were committed between 1990 and 1994, even after he had been warned to stop his contacts with Iran and had repeatedly promised to do so.
Four years ago, Manbar applied for early release based on good behavior during his time in prison. The state did challenge whether he qualified based on good behavior, but objected to his release based on the grave nature of his crime. The application for early release was rejected on the basis of the state's objections at that time.
Another application for early release was filed one year later but was also rejected.
In reviewing the most recent application, security officials decided that Manbar does not pose a threat to society after having undergone significant rehabilitation in the past three years since his last request for release.
Following a meeting in which he reviewed the latest application for Manbar's release, the attorney-general decided not to object to his conditional release. Manbar agreed to several conditions that will be imposed on him, including a ban on leaving the country, a ban on holding contacts with foreign citizens, a ban on giving media interviews. Additionally, Manbar is forbidden from doing any business related to the weapons trade.
Dan Izenberg contributed to this report