The Tel Aviv District Court passed a sentence of 13 years imprisonment today on Asi Abutbul, who was convicted of heading a criminal organization and of a set of serious crimes. Abutbul was also given a two-year suspended sentence, and was fined NIS 500,000.
On leaving the courtroom, Abutbul would only say "Supreme Court" meaning that he intended to appeal against the sentence. The prosecution is also likely to appeal, against the lightness of the sentence. It had asked for a sentence of 25 years.
"The crimes of extortion with threats uncovered in this case are extremely serious," the judges wrote in their judgment. "The events described to us are horrifying. The situation highlights the duty of the court to bring an end to the criminal anarchy that has spread in our society. The court must make a statement to those who spoil people's way of life and cause harm to law and order."
Abutbul was convicted of running a criminal organization, extortion by force and with threats, arson, false imprisonment, money laundering, and bribery. For a long period, his organization extorted money by force and with threats from business people, contractors, and wealthy individuals, both Israeli and foreign.
Others convicted along with Abutbul were Albert Sitbon, one of the organization's bosses, who was sentenced to 11 years; Gavriel Assor and David Zuartez, who were sentenced to eight and seven years respectively, and Adv. Barak Bofman, who was convicted of assisting the organization and was sentenced to five years. Others of the accused were sentenced to varying terms in prison. Some of them will serve their terms in community service.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on June 22, 2009
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