Omri Sharon’s appeal rejected
צילום: חיים צח
Court rejects Omri Sharon's appeal
Prime minister's son asked for sentencing stage in trial to be delayed for after elections; judges reject request
The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court rejected Thursday an appeal by Knesset Member Omri Sharon, the prime minister’s son, to delay pleas over his sentencing until after the elections. The sentence hearing will therefore be held, as originally scheduled, in about a month.
"The dates for the sentence hearing were set in agreement with the two sides and according to court journals, and both sides had sufficient time to prepare for the sentence hearing stage," Judge Edna Bekenstein stated in her ruling.
It now appears that Sharon Junior will be sentenced prior to the elections.
The young Sharon was convicted on November 15 of this year after pleading guilty to violating the Political Party Fundraising Law, providing false testimony, and fraudulent registration of corporate documents. Arguments over sentencing were scheduled to take place at the end of January 2006.
However, Omri sharon asked for a delay so that the court sessions take place after the elections, claiming that competing political parties will use his conviction during the election campaign, which may seriously harm the defense's case.
Sharon also said he is not running in the next elections, and that there have already been harsh comments directed against him regarding the case, despite the fact that the case is still pending.
Dan Scheinman, Sharon's defense attorney, submitted a written request which read: "The holding of the session regarding claims about sentencing will take place while the elections campaign will be at its height. With Ariel Sharon competing in these elections and heading the Kadima party, the court sessions will be at the center of press attention, and rival parties will try to widely exploit this in their elections campaigns. This can seriously disrupt the defense's handling of the case."
