Breaking News: Second Japan Bochur Sentenced to Six Years

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japan-bochurimBreaking News, 9:07 a.m. IDT: Matzav.com has learned that Yaakov Yosef Greenwald, one of the three bochurim arrested in Japan on drug smuggling, received his verdict a short while ago in Japan. Yaakov Yosef was sentenced to six years in prison, significantly less than the thirteen-year sentence and $50,000 fine that was sought by the prosecution. It is still a stiffer sentence than the verdict of Yosef Bando, Yosef ben Ita Rivka, the youngest of the three bochurim, as Yaakov Yosef was not a minor at the time of his arrest.

Like Yosef Bando, who was flown to Eretz Yisroel two weeks ago to serve the duration of his sentence in an Israeli jail, it is hoped that Yaakov Yosef will be extradited and be able to serve a reduced sentence in an Israeli jail. Counting the two years he has already spent in jail, as well as a reduction for good behavior, Yaakov Yosef could spend as few anywhere from 36-48 months in jail.

The ruling of the judge is looked at as a victory for the defense team of Yaakov Yosef, as a much harsher sentence was a very real possibility. The Japanese judge ruled unequivocally that Yaakov Yosef did not know what he was carrying in his luggage, but said that based on the circumstances, he should have suspected that something was awry.

Present at the sentencing in Japan, in addition to family members, were Rav Abba Dunner of the Conference of European Rabbis; Yaakov Yosef’s lawyer, Mordechai Tzivin; R’ Aharon Netzer of London; and R’ Meilich Bindiger of Antwerp.

The trial of the third bochur, Yoel Goldstein, Yoel Zev ben Mirel Risa Chava, will get underway after Pesach.

{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}


10 COMMENTS

  1. We had hoped for an acquital.
    If I understand correctly, the fact that he was not suspicious, which boils down to being naive, is deserving of 6 years of hard labor in jail?
    Does the Torah have such rulings for naivety?

  2. “The Japanese judge ruled unequivocally that Yaakov Yosef did not know what he was carrying in his luggage, but said that based on the circumstances, he should have suspected that something was awry.”

    The Japanese judge has demonstrated more seichal. The truth is, the Japanese judicial system has shown itself well equipped to render mishpat b’emes.

  3. Let’s hope that this serves as a lesson to other people that if something does not smell righ it probably is not. These people were used by thugs but what they did was still wrong.

  4. the guy who framed them is part of the israeli mafia and is on trial in israel, the israelis offered him in exchangfe but the japanese said no b/c he didnt do the actual crime. btw the bochurim r not getting such harsh treatment. as it said in a magazine the japanese sleep on matresses on the floor, these boys should get king sized matresses?? and these boys were allowed tefillin every day & matza for pesach which has never been allowed in a japanese jail before b/c they’re afraid of poisoning.

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