Israeli ex-minister sentenced in sex abuse case

Flip_flop_politics
Published on Aug 14, 2022
(8 Aug 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
SHOTLIST
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem - 8 August 2022
1. Yaakov Litzman, Israeli former health minister arriving at court
2. Various of Litzman inside court room
3. Tilt-up from judge's chair
4. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Danny Whitman, Jerusalem District prosecutor:
"He was convicted, probation, eight months of probation (and) for a period of three years if he commits again an offence of breach of trust, and a fine of 3000Nis (900 US dollars), exactly the way it was determined in the framework of the appropriate plea bargain, which we have signed with the defence."
5. Various of Litzman inside court room
6. Jacque Chen, defence lawyer, inside court room
7. Litzman leaving court room, UPSOUND of reporter's question (Hebrew): "Mr. Litzman can you tell us what is happening? Litzman: "I respect the verdict of the judge and the court." Reporter: "What is the verdict?" Litzman: "Ask the lawyer"
8. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Danny Whitman, Jerusalem District prosecutor:
"The court has adopted the plea bargain, and the arguments of the accuser over seven pages. It (the court) determined that an intervention on the level of a minister in the distinct professional judgment of his or her subordinate rank, is a criminal offence. In doing so, the court drew the line between what is permitted and what is prohibited, and the proper standard for the behavior of public servants."
9. Exterior of court building
10. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Jacque Chen, defence lawyer:
"The question of her (Malka Leifer) mental state was a subject of a huge debate between experts. There are many opinions, which claimed on the one hand that we are talking about a person who is extraditable and is not mentally impaired in a way that prevents her extradition. On the other hand there were opinions that said otherwise, and in this fog (uncertainty) in real time his help was requested, or, a request was made to Rabbi Litzman which as mentioned was not appropriate, and for that he took responsibility."
11. Chen speaking to media
STORYLINE:
An Israeli court sentenced a former health minister sentenced to probation and a fine on Monday for obstructing justice in connection with the protracted extradition case against a former teacher accused of sexually abusing her students in Australia.
Yaakov Litzman, a former health minister and longtime ally of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, resigned from parliament earlier this year after striking a plea deal with prosecutors.
He was accused of pressuring ministry employees to alter psychiatric evaluations to make it appear that Malka Leifer was unfit to stand trial.
Leifer was extradited to Australia in January 2021 after a six-year legal battle that strained relations between the two countries and angered Australia's Jewish community.
Leifer has pleaded not guilty to the charges and her trial is expected to start later this month.
Litzman was health minister during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic but resigned in April 2020 in the face of a public uproar over his handling of the crisis.
He was charged with fraud and breach of trust earlier this year, but pleaded guilty to the breach of trust charge in the Leifer case.
In Monday's hearing, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court upheld the plea deal and sentenced Litzman to eight months of probation and a $900 fine.
He and Leifer are members of the country's insular ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.
Last year, then-Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said Litzman had used his position "to advance the interests of private individuals."
===========================================================

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives â€‹â€‹
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/

You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/66124c35cc4c48fc8fcf9bf409bb1c6f

Add to

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

Flag Video

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

Rate video

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

Rate video

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

DISCLAIMER

The content presented in this stream and/or video may be satirical in nature for entertainment purposes. It may contain realistic scenarios that may include themes of racism, anti-semitism, anti-LGBT sentiment and even elements such as death threats, all purely in the context of parody. In addition, this content may depict or refer to acts of violence in a satirical manner. Shock factor is a common and deliberate element used in these displays to emphasise the satirical message. By continuing to view this content, you acknowledge that you understand the satirical nature of this content, including the depiction of violence and the use of shock factor, and agree that you will not use or interpret this content outside of its intended context. Please remember that humour and satire are complex; they are not intended to belittle or demean, but to engage and challenge social norms through exaggeration. If you have any concerns about content, please feel free to engage in constructive dialogue or report issues to GTV staff.