Boaz Yona, the former CEO of the Heftsiba construction company, was found guilty Monday of a slew of fraud charges, pertaining to the company's collapse in
the summer of 2007.
Yona pled guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime, fraud, grand larceny, forgery, executive theft, falsifying corporate records, using falsified documents, illicit use of corporate funds and fraudulently receiving benefits.
| Saying Sorry |
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| Heftsiba CEO 'regrets his actions' / Efrat Weiss |
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Boaz Yona's lawyer meets with him at Italian jail ahead of court hearing on extradition to Israel. 'He is depressed and misses his wife and children,' Attorney Yair Golan tells Ynet |
| Full story |
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Last august saw the former CEO and owner of Heftsiba flee to
Italy when the investigation against him became public. The Israeli Police declared him a fugitive and an international warrant was
issued for his arrest, subsequently involving Interpol in
the manhunt.
Yona was finally arrested in
Italy and extradited back
to Israel after a lengthy legal proceeding.
The State Prosecutor's Office and the defense entered the guilty plea in accordance to a deal devised by the sides. Yona is to serve a seven-year prison sentence and pay NIS 4 million (approx. $1.15 million) in restitution to Heftsiba clients who lost their money when the company filed for bankruptcy.
Yona, who was booed by dozens of Heftsiba's casualties as he entered the courtroom, offered his apologies to the small crowd, saying "I made a mistake. They deserve an apology."
"You don't deserve our forgiveness," someone yelled back at him. "You got off a plane and got a deal. You'll be in prison for what? Three years? We'll be paying for the rest of our lives."
The Jerusalem District Court will now have to decide whether or not the plea deal is acceptable.
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