Prosecution: Long jail term for Hirchson

State's attorneys: Court must deter others; former minister's son: Jail time akin to death sentence.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Hirchson slipping envelope in pocket 248 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Hirchson slipping envelope in pocket 248
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
State prosecutors asked the Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday to sentence former finance minister Avraham Hirchson to a long and "deterring" prison term. Earlier this month, the court found Hirchson guilty of stealing up to NIS 2.3 million from the National Federation of Workers (NFW) and Nili, a non-profit organization owned by the NFW. Hirchson's son Elroi pleaded with the court to show mercy, saying imprisonment was akin to a death sentence for his father. "I don't know how he'll survive a prison term," he said. Hirchson was found guilty of receiving checks in his account and cash delivered to his home to the tune of as much as NIS 1.2m., NIS 160,000 in holiday bonuses, up to NIS 750,000 in travel allowances and NIS 72,000 in medical-related material, all paid for by the NFW or Nili. For these actions, he was convicted of theft by a director (for which he is likely to receive seven years in prison), deceit and breach of trust in a corporate body (for which he will likely receive three years), and prohibited money-laundering and false entry in documents of a corporate body (for which he will likely receive five years). Hirchson was also convicted of submitting receipts and receiving payment from the NFW for meals in restaurants and in the Knesset, which he falsely claimed were business meetings involving union affairs. He was convicted on two counts of obtaining something by deceit in aggravated circumstances, a crime carrying a punishment of up to five years in jail. Dan Izenberg contributed to this report.