Judaica theft from Italy: arrest for 4 Yeshiva bochurim

The affair of Judaica theft from the Great Synagogue in Milan, Italy, which was exposed about two years ago, is reaching its end: the Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem sentenced the four yeshiva bochurim who were involved, each one of them to imprisonment, fines and suspended imprisonment.

The accused were arrested in February 2011 on suspicion of stealing the objects from a synagogue in Milan, smuggling them to Israel and trying to sell them to clients.
According to the indictments against the four, one of them was the moving force behind the affair, by initiating and executing. Another took part in the actual theft, while the two others contributed their share in actions with the purpose of selling the articles to another person, while impersonating others, and committing other transgressions.

The first defendant admitted and was convicted of transgressions of conspiracy for crime, theft under special circumstances, impersonating and receiving an article by deceit under severe circumstances. Another, who was arrested for six months in harsh conditions, decided to make a change in his life and integrated into a special framework, started working and most of his salary goes towards paying his debts.

The court decreed a sentence of four years de facto out of which the period of arrest will be deducted, a suspended imprisonment for six months for the period of three years for property transgressions, and compensations to the plaintiff, to whom they tried to sell the articles for 47,777 NIS, which has to be paid within 45 days.

The second defendant, admitted and was convicted for transgressions of conspiracy for transgression and theft under special circumstances. He admitted the facts according to which the items were smuggled through the customs. It was concluded that the first defendant is the one who talked to the customs officer, in his presence. It was further agreed that he received a sum of $3000 as part of his fee for services which was supposed to be $6000. The defendant testified of himself as one who was a normative and positive bochur and performed the act as he was looking for excitement. Afterwards he related that he is now in a framework of treatment.

The court ruled an imprisonment of three years, out of which the period in which he was under arrest will be deduced, a suspended sentence of five months for three years on each property transgression, and compensation to the plaintiff for 47,777 NIS.
The third suspect admitted and was convicted with transgressions of receiving articles deceitfully under severe circumstances, impersonation and forging a document. His father testified that the defendant regrets his actions and finds it hard to believe the state he has reached, and accepts changes upon himself. The court ruled imprisonment for 18 months, out of which the period in which he was arrested will be deducted, a suspended sentence of four months for three years for property transgressions and compensation to the plaintiff for 27,777 NIS.

The fourth defendant admitted and was convicted with transgressions of receiving an article deceitfully under severe circumstances, impersonation and forge. The court ruled imprisonment for 9 months, out of which the period he was under arrest will be deducted, suspended arrest for 4 months for each property transgression and compensation to the plaintiff for the sum of 17,777 NIS.

An appeal can be given to the district court of Jerusalem within 45 days.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!