Former Shas Minister Shlomo Benizri, who was convicted of white-collar crimes, imprisoned and released, has filed a request to have his record expunged. The request, filed with President Reuven Rivlin, has been rejected.

Benizri served a prison term following his conviction on accepting bribes, fraud, and breach of trust. After his release, contractor and former key state witness against Benizri Moshe Sela announced on the radio that he lied in the case to prevent being sent to prison.

Benizri in his request explained he was innocent, as everyone now knows, but his life was ruined, and he now feels it is time to expunge the conviction from his record.

After considering all the arguments raised in Benizri’s request, the President considered that “they do not justify deviation from the provisions of the Criminal Register Law.

“Clarifying Benizri’s claims as to the credibility of the state witness who incriminated him, and examining the evidence, their place them in the legal courts and not within the framework of the pardoning institution.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)