The son of former Israeli premier Ariel Sharon began a seven-month prison sentence on Wednesday for corruption and fraud in connection with his father's Likud
party leadership bid.
Omri Sharon, a 43-year-old former Knesset member, was taken from Tel Aviv District Court in a prison van to a minimum-security jail in the center of the country, just a day after his coma-stricken father turned 80.
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| Silent, sullen 80th birthday celebrations for Ariel Sharon / Ynet |
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Former prime minister's birthday to be marked quietly at his bedside at Sheba Medical Center; his son Omri to begin his jail sentence this week |
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Sharon arrived at the court after visiting his father at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer and after taking his three daughters to kindergarten. He was greeted at the courthouse by dozens of Israeli and foreign journalists, but refused to talk.
Right-wing activists Itamar Ben-Gvir and Brauch Marzel shouted at Sharon, "You should be ashamed of yourself. We will pursue you till your last day."
Sharon was sentenced to jail and fined NIS 300,000 ($81,000) in February 2006 after he was found guilty of fraud during his father's 1999 campaign for the leadership of the right-wing Likud.
However, his sentence was delayed to allow him to spend time with his father, who had suffered a debilitating stroke in January 2006.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that Sharon must begin his jail term.
Ariel Sharon quit Likud to form the Kadima party in November 2005, just months after withdrawing Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip after 38 years of occupation and only weeks before he suffered the stroke that ended his career.
Omri Sharon, who was a key backroom ally, attracted an outpouring of national sympathy following the stroke because of his devotion, spending much of his time at his father's bedside.
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