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Omri Sharon Sentenced To Prison

An Israeli court has sentenced the eldest son of Israel`s ailing prime minister, Ariel Sharon, to nine months in prison for using illegal fund-raising methods for his father`s 1999 primary election campaign. In November 2005, Omri Sharon - a former member of the Israeli parliament, or Knesset - pleaded guilty to falsifying corporate documents, perjury and violating party funding laws.

The charges carry a maximum of five years in prison. Under Israeli law, a legislator convicted of an offense defined as one of "moral turpitude" must resign. Under a plea deal, prosecutors dropped charges of fraud and breach of trust but demanded imprisonment on the other counts. He resigned his parliamentary seat in January, in anticipation of the sentencing.

Tel Aviv District Court is also placing Omri Sharon on probation for an additional nine months. He must also pay a fine of $64,000. His lawyer, Navit Negev, calls the sentence "exceptionally harsh" and says she will appeal. Reports initially said he would not have to enter prison immediately because his father remains in a coma since suffering a devastating stroke, though this information has varied on accuracy.