The Jerusalem District Court today (Friday) overturned the decision of the city's Magistrate's Court and sent the ultra-Orthodox man from Bnei Brak, who was arrested earlier this week at Ben Gurion Airport, to house arrest at the request of US authorities, who are demanding his extradition. This was after an indictment was filed against him there for selling parts for Phantom jets to Iran.
The court ruled that the 64-year-old man, represented by attorney Boaz Ben Tzur, will remain under house arrest in Bnei Brak until the extradition process against him is completed.
The federal indictment against him includes offenses of exporting American military equipment without a license and money laundering in the years 2000-2004, and offenses of trading defense equipment with Iran in violation of a presidential order, which were committed recently.
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The International Affairs Department of the State Attorney's Office asked the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court to extend his detention, under Article 7 of the Extradition Law, to allow US authorities to submit the formal extradition request - and the court granted the request. The extradition request will be submitted by US authorities within 60 days.
It should be noted that in 1993 the FBI arrested the man in the US, and he was indicted for illegal exports to Iran. At trial, the American prosecution had difficulty proving the trade ties with the Iranians, and in a plea bargain, the man admitted to violating American export laws and was sentenced to six months of house arrest, which he served in 1995.
Israel also later had difficulty proving his guilt, and he was acquitted of charges of illegal sales to Iran, but was fined for the illegal use of an export permit.
During the years 2000-2002, the man was arrested again on suspicion of selling military equipment to Iran, but the prosecution again had difficulty proving his guilt. Now, as mentioned, he has been arrested again in light of the request of the US authorities.
