The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court today sentenced David Appel to 42 months in jail, 18 months probation, and a fine of NIS 1 million. He was convicted two months ago on three counts of bribery: more than NIS 1.2 million paid to former Lod mayor Benny Regev, former Givat Shmuel Local Authority head Zamir Ben-Arie, and former Israel Land Administration (ILA) official Oded Tal.
The three-judge panel - court vice president Mordechai Peled, Daniel Beeri, and Gilya Ravid said in the sentencing, "Appel claimed that he was a victim of prolonged persecution by the judicial authorities, but we clarify on this point that nothing has been found to support this claim. Appel was not deterred from bribing a mayor and candidate for mayor with large sums of money in order to promote his goals, with the intention of reaping huge amounts of money in the future."
In May 2010, the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court convicted Appel of bribing the three officials to facilitate a residential real estate project. Tal was also convicted of receiving a bribe to help Appel build his private home in Tel Baruch.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 13, 2010
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