Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Yedioth Ahronoth
8 year sentence for top cop in bribery scandal
Former leading investigator Eran Malka to serve 8 years in prison for accepting bribes from celebrity lawyer Ronel Fisher; 'I wish I could turn back time.'
Eran Malka,
a police investigator who accepted bribes from prominent Israeli lawyer Ronel Fisher,
was sentenced to eight years in prison Sunday after pleading guilty to money laundering, fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice in addition to the charges of graft.
Malka was accused of passing sensitive details of ongoing investigations to Fisher who then used the information to the benefit of his clients.
Eran Malka. (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Yedioth Ahronoth)
"The defendant was not only a guardian of the law, but was also supposed to hold and strengthen the foundations of the rule of law," concluded the presiding judge. "The defendant harmed the work of the police."
Malka will be granted two weeks under house arrest to prepare for his jail time and say goodbye to his family. Prosecutors had pushed for a 10-year sentence for Malka, citing the seriousness of his crimes. Malka's lawyer said his client should receive no more than five years after pleading guilty and taking responsibility for his crimes.
Malka himself apologized in court. "I'm so sorry for what I've done," he said. "I wish I could turn back time."
The former investigator was placed in solitary confinement five months ago for the duration of his trail because of the secret and sensitive information to which he was privy during his tenure with the police.
