The Tel Aviv District Court ordered veteran Israeli actor Hanan Goldblatt (66) to serve a seven-year jail sentence for the rape of two women and the assault of two others.
Goldblatt was convicted oftwo counts of rape, sodomy, two counts of indecent assault, aggravated fraud, an indecent act and abuse of authority in March.
The honorable Avraham Tal, Ruth Lev-Har Sharon and Yehudit Amsterdam further ordered Goldblatt to pay two of his victims NIS 50,000 ($13,000) in damages.
Goldblatt awaiting sentencing (Photo: Yaron Brener)
The defense then filed for a stay of sentence, informing the court it intends to appeal its severity with the Supreme Court. The court said it believed the chances of an appeal were slim, and denied the petition.
"It is the court's duty to clarify that the defendant's fame does not excuse imposing sexual acts on unwilling women, belittling their free will and defrauding them into submitting to sexual intercourse. These acts are reprehensible. The defendant grossly abused his position and the women's dependency… to inflict grave harm," noted the court.
Goldblatt expressed remorse for his actions during his sentencing hearing, telling the court he was "profoundly sorry": "I've become the worst kind of person. A parasite. I accept the verdict. My life is in shambles now, everything is ruined."