8:10PM EST: YWN has learned that one of the Bochrim who was arrested in Japan has been released from an Israeli prison – where he was serving his prison sentence.
According to Israeli reports, Yosef Ben Ita Rivka was released this evening from prison, and is currently at his home in Bnei Brak. The reports state that he received a pardon from Israeli President Shimon Peres two weeks ago.
Yosef Banda had been transferred to Israeli Custody in March 2010 to serve the remainder of his sentence in Nitzan Prison. Yosef was entitled to weekly family visits, on erev, and was even released for Shavuos last year.
The Japanese court had sentenced Yosef to 5 years imprisonment and a $40,000 fine, and after calculating time served, he was scheduled for release after this coming Pesach.
The tzibur is requested to continue being Mispallel for Yoel Zev ben Mirel Reesa Chava and Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel.
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19 Responses
Will this jeapordize the extradition of the other thwo?
I hope it doesn’t have a negative affect on the other two. The Japenese may fear that if they are sent to Israel to serve their sentence they will be released.
Baruch Hashem!
This is such good news, I’m crying out of happines! Bourch Hashem, iyh by the next two aswell!!
If he was set to be released by Pesach time, then this shouldn’t be much of a problem. It is probably a commuted sentence. I’m sure Shimon Peres wasn’t going against agreements to do this.
I have a terrible feeling that this will indeed jeapordize the other two. Why would it not?
Chasdei Hashem!
Wonderful news!! Now let’s pray for the other two bochurim & Sholom Mordecai Rubashkin.
My guess is that the Israeli govt paid Japan the courtesy of discussing it with them first.
hodu lahashem ki tov!
Baruch Hashem!!!
It’s great to hear some good news after all the tzaros!!!
Let’s daven that we only hear good news from now on.
Good news at last bh
Boruch Hashem
may this change the tide and may all tzorus of clal yisroel end this way
however we must keep davening for the other bochurim in japan and for rabbi rubashkin
kol tuv
Now ihy let them all reunite together in eretz yisroel
I heard a report somewere alse that japan gave the ok for it.
What happened to the rasha who convinced them to commit this crime?
Sorry Charlie – “Convinced them”?? What lesson are you teaching our future generations?
charliehall, I’d say “deceived them” rather that “convinced them” – I agree with the rasha part. This is what I just saw elsewhere about him:
The “friend” was later found and is now serving a three-year prison term in Israel.
Reports on other sites seem to be that he was given time off for good behaviour, and that Japan was consulted with and agreed to the decision prior to his release. This does not seem to be simply a pardon by Peres as is implied in the article above.
As per the announcment on Kol Mevaser they said that Japan was consulted on this before. Japan gave the Ok based on the fact that in Japan it also works that a person can be released earlier based on good behavior and even if it wouldn’t be like that by them they said that they handed him over to Israel which means they can deal with him according to Israeli law. I believe the above facts are true since the askanim that are working on this case are working tirelsy and put alot of effort into this case and its only common sense that they would be very cautios in this area