Shas party officials are saying that MK Arye Deri will
continue as their leader, despite being sentenced to four
years in prison and fined NIS 250,000 for accepting
bribes.
The court agreed to postpone implementation of the prison
sentence until the Supreme Court rules on Deri's appeal.
The secular court also determined that Deri's activities
entailed "moral turpitude," a ruling that now prohibits him
from serving as a minister for 10 years.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu indicated to reporters that
he would still be open to discussing formation of a coalition
with Shas--if he wins next month's elections--because Deri's
appeal has yet to be heard.
Co-defendant R' Moshe Weinberg was sentenced to one year in
jail and one year suspended. The judges agreed to postpone
implementation of the jail sentence until the Supreme Court
rules on his appeal. Weinberg's father, R' Arye, was given a
two years' suspended sentence and fined NIS 50,000.
R' Yom Tov Rubin was sentenced to six months, which may be
converted to public service, and a year's suspended
sentence.
MK Deri can continue to serve as an MK while serving his
prison sentence. While the procedure to oust him from the
Knesset is quite complicated, he could be suspended through a
much simpler process.
The June 1995 amendments to the parliamentary immunity
legislation, which prevent a convicted criminal from
continuing as an MK, do not apply in Deri's case--the
offenses he was found guilty of were committed before the law
went into effect.
Inbar noted that the law also allows him to be reelected even
after his conviction.
