Minister of Internal Security Yitzchak Aharonovich slammed the Nazareth Magistrates Court Monday in a rare case of public condemnation of lenient rulings. Aharonovich criticized the court for sentencing a career criminal to only 11 months in prison, and said such decisions undermine efforts to fight organized crime.
Aharonovich was “pained and disappointed” by the punishment meted out to crime boss Michael Mor, according to a statement from his office. "There is no doubt that this decision does not provide support in the war on crime,” the minister said.
Mor was convicted of threatening police and judges in the northern district. The eight months that he spent in prison while on trial will count towards his sentence, leaving him with approximately two months left to release. He has also been ordered to stay out of the city of Nahariya, where he lives, for 13 months.
"The amount of time left to serve, mere months, sends a tough message,” Aharonovich said.
Mor's sentence was light due in part to the court's decision to allow for a mediation process prior to sentencing. During the mediation, many of the charges against Mor were dropped, including accusations of contempt of court and tampering with an investigation.
MK Aryeh Bibi (Kadima), head of the Knesset Lobby for Police, was similarly upset by the verdict. Bibi termed the light sentence “a horrible decision,” and said the court's verdict “does nothing to provide deterrence.”
Policemen: Sentence will Encourage Attacks
Mor was at the center of a major scandal in the police force almost two years ago. Five policemen were charged with placing bombs in Mor's car and in his nephew's apartment, as revenge for attacks Mor lead against police officers and city officials.
Relatives of the policemen, who have since been convicted, decried the sentence given Mor on Monday. The sentence will encourage criminals to harm those working in law enforcement, they said.