Israel’s Supreme Court on Sunday denied Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto’s appeal, and the latter will start serving a year in prison in six weeks, Israel Radio reported. A district court convicted Pinto of bribery.
Justice Menachem “Meni” Mazuz said in his ruling that the sentence imposed on Pinto is the necessary minimum based on the appellant’s actions.
Justice Itzhak Amit ruled that the appellant’s family circumstances are, indeed, difficult, but noted that the plea bargain that had been reached with him already took care of these concerns and consideration was given them by the district court in sentencing.
Rabbi Pinto leads a global organization called Mosdot Shuva Israel, in Ashdod and New York. Globes named him one of the ten wealthiest rabbis in Israel. In 2014 Pinto was indicted on charges of attempting to bribe Ephraim Bracha of the Israeli police. In February 2015 Pinto pled guilty to bribing Bracha. A judge found him guilty of bribery, attempted bribery, and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to one year in prison, and must pay a fine of $250,000. Bracha, who was cleared of any wrongdoing, committed suicide on July 5, 2015.