President Shimon Peres has decided to grant the clemency appeal filed by former Minister Shlomo Benizri ,Ynet learned Thursday. Benizri is expected to be released in early March.
Earlier this week, the Prison Service's Parole Board decided to deduct one-third Benizri's sentence for good behavior.
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In 2009, the former Social Welfare minister was found guilty of accepting bribes, breach of trust, obstructing of justice, and conspiracy to commit a crime. He was sentenced to four years in the Maasiyahu Prison – the same facility where former president Moshe Kastav is now serving a seven-year rape sentence.
Benizri motioned for a presidential clemency 18 months ago. In an unusual move, Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman said he would not be weighing on the decision, leaving it all up to Peres.
Benizri's lawyer Yehoram Malka was informed of the decision Thursday. "It's too little too late," he said in response.