In a totally unexpected verdict, Tel Aviv District Court Justice David Rosen sentenced former Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky to six years imprisonment for his role in the Holyland real estate case.
In earlier hearings the court repeatedly instructed the prosecution to seek a leniency sentence for Lupoliansky due to his serious illness and the fact that he never accepted bribe money for personal gain, but gave the funds given to him to Yad Sara, the nationwide chessed organization that he established.
Rosen acknowledged Lupoliansky’s life has been dedicated to doing chessed for the tzibur, but added the severity of accepting bribes cannot be overlooked. The court accepted the opinion of Israel Prison Authority officials that the former mayor can be hospitalized in a prison medical facility if required.
The prosecution appeared no less surprised than the defendant when sentencing was announced as the court has repeatedly stressed the need for leniency in this case despite the severity of the crime.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
This is leniency….!!I suppose as a religious person he would have received 20 years..!Boys..we are second class citizens in Israel…I’m taking my sons back to the UK..
I have mercy on the Yom Hadin for Judge Rozen
You think it’s good for the Jews in UK? Or US? Or anywhere outside Israel? It’s not perfect by any means here, but let’s face it….the achdus we are feeling over our boys is amazing. And honestly….the Mayor committed a crime, no matter who benefitted.
You want to see changes? Stay here and do something.
Bottom Line:- Don’t be Red Robbin Hood. Being Red Robbin Hood legalizes nothing.
In the United States that wouldn’t even be consdiered illegal. It might be considered praiseworthy (insisting that those receiving government benefits donate to local charities is not considered a crime in the USA). Of course, had the donation been to, as an example, an organization supporting “gay rights” I suspect it wouldn’t have been a crime in Medinat Yisrael either.
But realistically, frum tsadakahs that help poor people are against public policy under the current zionist regime.
Olmert got worse and he is anti religious.
Olmert got just a year or 2 more and he is a hard core repeat offender laugh-in your- face all way to the bank criminal. If the difference between him and Lopoliansky is just 1 year- something smells!
#5 – Olmert’s “charity” was himself. He was managing to get rich from his government job by getting “help” from his friends. He would be in trouble under any legal system.
Using your position to benefit the community you serve is what politicians are supposed to do. Using your position to enrich your self is corruption.
Olmert was a crook. Lupoliansky was convicted of being an uppity hareidi who didn’t realize that the official policy in Israel is that hareidim aren’t supposed to run things.
So when u hear people screaming Nazi on this judge u know why!!!!
This heartless animal sitting there with a robe is an embarrassment to Israel and human society!!!!
As long as we keep on defending thieves in our community, our community will continue producing thieves.
CORRECTION.
Mr Lupoliansky did not take the money & give it to Yad Sarah. The money was given without his interference directly to Yad Sarah. The judge is influenced by his chiloni education. He doesn’t realize that there is a concept of yirat shamayim & honesty that goes with it. Have mercy on this “ignorant” judge who is doing the ma’ase of Zimri & thinking that he is acting like Pinchas.
#7
You don’t need to tell me that Olmert is worse. You are preaching to the choir.
But it’s not that Lupolianski directed public funds to Yad Sarah. That is 100% legal and perfectly ok to do. The issue was that he gave a contract to a specific company in exchange for a huge donation to Yad Sarah. His motives were fine, but that is still bribery. The city has an obligation to treat all offers equally.
Had he used funds that were meant for a theater and gave them to Yad Sarah instead, that would be perfectly legal. But this is proper bribery.