Sex offender brought to justice
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Sex offender to be extradited to US
Though he has been hiding from Oregon authorities since 2001, Netanya resident convicted of abusing two minors was not eligible for extradition until now because agreement did not include offences he committed
The State Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday submitted a petition to the Jerusalem District Court asking to declare Samuel Arthur Silverman of Netanya eligible for extradition to the US.
Silverman, also known as Abraham Cohen, is wanted for sexually abusing two minors. The US appealed to Israel one month ago to extradite him.
Silverman was convicted after he confessed to sexually abusing two children under the age of 14 during the years 1995-1996. He was sentenced to three years and three months in an Oregon state prison.
In the US, Silverman had filed an appeal to reduce his sentence, which was approved, but the prosecution appealed against the reduction and a hearing was scheduled for 2001.
After he failed to appear at the hearing authorities determined he had escaped to Israel, where he has been living for seven years. Silverman's extradition was delayed until now due to an amendment in the agreement between Israel and the US, as the previous agreement did not include his offences.
