United Torah Judaism MK Yaakov Litzman has signed a plea deal, allowing him to avoid jail time for allegedly using his political power to help an accused pedophile and sexual assailant avoid facing justice and allowing a restaurant serving bad food to stay open despite being a public health danger.
Under the deal, Litzman, a former health minister, will pay a fine of some NIS 3,000 ($938) and receive a suspended sentence after admitting to breach of trust in the case of Malka Leifer, whom he was accused of helping in her attempt to avoid extradition to Australia, where she is now facing trial for sexually abusing girls at a Jewish school.
A charge of obstruction of justice is dropped as part of the agreement.
Litzman had also been accused of leaning on health inspectors to keep them from closing Jerusalem restaurant Goldie’s, which is owned by friends of his. Charges related to that case are dropped.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 27, 2022
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