David Shamir
צילום: עופר עמרם
IDF officer who offered services to Iran sentenced to 5 years in prison
Dr. David Shamir was convicted of contacting foreign intelligence agencies with intent to harm the State. 'Story seems enigmatic and detached from any possible reality,' judges say in ruling
Former IDF mental health officer Dr. David Shamir was sentenced by the Tel Aviv District Court Thursday to five years in prison after being convicted last week of contacting foreign intelligence agencies, including Iran's, and possessing information with the intent of using it to harm the State.
Shamir, 45, also received a two-year suspended sentence for his crimes.
State prosecutors had originally charged Shamir with "grave espionage," but following talks between the prosecution and defense in the case in recent weeks, it was decided to charge him with the lesser charge of "contact with a foreign agent".
"The story seemed strange to us from the beginning – enigmatic and detached from any possible reality," judges Bracha Ofir-Tom and Miryam Sokolov said in their ruling.
"We fail to understand what could lead a seemingly normal person, with a sound professional and social status, to get up one day and offer his services to elements that are the most hostile to the country for the purpose of destroying all that was supposed to be dear to his heart."
According to the judges, Shamir decided to "earn a profit for himself and others by disclosing classified data to Israel's most bitter enemies".
