“IDF Radio” (Galei Zahal) reports that the Tel Aviv District Court today sentenced businessman Gregory Lerner to six years in jail and a NIS 200,000 fine. He was convicted of laundering $1 million and forging documents in an attempt to defraud two businessmen who sought his partnership in a gas company.
Lerner will serve an additional two year sentence that was supended in an earlier verdict; altogether, he will spend eight years in prison.
In response to the verdict, the prosecutor in the case, Adv. David Cohen, said, “We view today’s sentencing of the accused as an important step in the constant uncompromising war we’re waging against crime in general and money laundering in particular.”
Six months ago, in a plea bargain, Lerner was convicted of fraud, money laundering and the forging of documents. He fled Israel, but was arrested in Paraguay. After his arrest, he waived arguments against his sentencing in the trial, after his defense attorney asked that Lerner be referred for psychiatric evaluation.
Lerner’s file includes an opinion by a private psychiatrist, which was not admissible in court. The judge therefore ordered that the district psychiatris examine Lerner.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 9, 2006
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