Israeli ex-minister to get 11 years in prison for spying for Iran
- According to Israel’s justice ministry, Gonen Segev will plead guilty to serious espionage and transfer of information to the enemy
An Israeli ex-minister charged with spying for the country’s arch-foe Iran has reached a plea bargain with prosecutors that will see him serve 11 years in prison, the justice ministry said Wednesday.
As part of the agreement, Gonen Segev will plead guilty to serious espionage and transfer of information to the enemy, the ministry said in a statement.
Segev’s lawyers, Eli Zohar and Moshe Mazor, said in a statement that as part of the deal a charge of treason was dropped.
“Indeed Mr. Segev had contacts with Iranians, but his motive was not ‘to aid the enemy in time of war’ – treason. That is why that offence was removed, inter alia, from the amended indictment.
“The amended charge sheet filed today and the plea bargain that was reached, returns this case to its natural and proper proportions,” the Hebrew-language statement said.
A sentencing hearing was set for February 11.
