PM son's aides: Omri is strong
Friends, associates of prime minister’s son saddened by court's decision to send him to jail
Sources close to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son Omri told Ynet Tuesday evening: "Don’t worry about Omri. He will fight the court’s ruling. Omri is strong, he is self-controlled and we believe his appeal will be successful."
The Tel Aviv Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced Sharon to a nine-month jail term, nine-month suspended sentence and a fine of NIS 300,000 (about USD 65,000) for fraud and perjury.
"Omri Sharon deceived the campaign headquarters he was working for, as well as the party and the public,” Justice Edna Beckenstein said.
Friends and aides to the prime minister’s son were saddened by the ruling but most refrained from commenting on the sentence. One associate, however, lashed out at Beckenstein, saying that “the sentence was beyond all proportions.”
Most were hopeful that an appeal will reduce the sentence
'Omri paying for social atmosphere'
Beckenstein decided to take Ariel Sharon’s condition into consideration and delay the implementation of the sentence by six months. Gavriel Manor, Omri Sharon’s associate in the affair, was sentenced to a nine-month suspended sentence.
“It is a judicial rather than a political decision,” Kadima officials said.
“The Court was very tough. Our heart is with Omri and we appreciate the fact that the party will not be damaged," an official said.
Omri’s personal friends found it difficult to accept the sentence.
“Omri is paying for a social atmosphere. Those who know him are aware of what he did for this country and for us it is difficult to accept the sentence. We so much want to accept the court’s ruling but the severity of the sentence is incomprehensible. I hope the appeal will reduce the sentence,” a Kadima official said.
