Israel-Iran | Moti Maman was convicted of serious security offenses – this is the expected punishment

The prosecutor’s office asked the court to impose a sentence of 12 years in prison for Moti Maman,A 72 -year -old Ashkelon resident, who was convicted, based on his confession, in offenses of contact with a foreign agent and entry into an enemy state without a permit. Maman met on Iran soil with intelligence agents who tried to recruit him to act against the State of Israel. Maman’s confession was achieved as part of a mediation process between the prosecutor’s office and defense attorney, Attorney Eyal Basglik, led by court president Benny Sagi.

Maman was convicted as part of a trial during the “Iron Swords” war, and was the first of a number of severe cases in which the prosecutor’s office filed indictments against Israeli citizens who, according to the state, were recruited by Iranian agents to harm Israel and its citizens. According to the indictment, Maman enters Iran twice and met there with Iranian intelligence officials, with whom he discussed terrorist operations in Israel. As part of the talks, the Ayatollah regime will also rise to avenge Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

At the Be’er Sheva court hearing, Attorney Michael Cohen claimed that the proper punishment complex for the state’s position ranged from 9 to 14 years in prison, and that the prosecutor’s office seeks to impose a 12-year punishment. That the acts were done during an iron sword war.

Adv. Cohen presented to the court, Maman’s conduct and claimed that initially acted with an economic motive, but later made a conscious decision to cross the border again and meet the Iranian agents. Completely, “he said. For a situation that was not completely aware of it. But unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. After understanding what the purpose of the contacts was, he initiated another meeting, this time in Turkey, and continued to act even though he was aware that he was going to enter Iran again and commit security offenses. ”

Attorney Cohen also added that “the defendant had the opportunity to stop, but he chose an informed and conscious choice to continue to hold the contacts and cross the border again.” The trouble is severe political, and there is also real financial negotiations designed to lead to the assassinations of senior officials in Israel. When he was told to hurt the prime minister and the defense minister, he did not objected, but explained that it was impossible because of the security around them. Only then did the discourse move to other purposes as an attack could be carried out against them. ”

The prosecutor’s office emphasized that these contacts could not be matured into an act, and only Maman’s arrest prevented it. “Since October 7, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in spy cases for Iran on Israeli soil,” Cohen said. “It will be the first sentence of such offenses, and it is important to determine a daunting punishment complex.”

On the other hand, Adv. Eyal Basglik, who represents Maman, asked the court to facilitate his sentence. Said in Sigalik. The prosecutor’s office asks for a 12 -year -old sentence, with the proper punishment to range from six months to three years. ”

He said, “A fair claim should only punish a person according to his actions, and not by other cases. This is an older person, with a clean past, who made wrong decisions but had no desire to hurt the country.”

Maman’s sons testified on behalf of the defense, asking the court to facilitate his sentence. Their names and duties were banned for publication, but the eldest son, a senior IDF officer, said: “I served for 30 years in the military, and what October 7 did 200 reserve days. My father educated us to be valuable, responsibility and truth. He admitted, he understands the severity of the act. He did not hurt the State of Israel, he only hit himself and his son. ”

Another son, an IDF officer, said that “I grew up on the love of the state and giving. On October 7, I fight in Gaza, I participated in a kidnapping operation, lost friends. I ask the court to consider and drive my dad in fairness. ”

A Golani reserve officer who testified to Maman’s favor said that during the fighting in the north, they did not receive a supply for three weeks. “Moti’s son took care of us. Every day he sent us 200 sandwiches from home. The soldiers knew him every morning. I think he suffered enough and asks the court to pity him.”

Maman said at the end of the hearing that “I am sorry deeply. How many years I have to live. I did.

He added: “Wy away. I served my country. My grandfather was killed for the state. My brothers and children served. I love my country. Sorry from all the State of Israel. Prisoner and not standing in front of friends and children. ”

The discussion of Maman’s case is over, and the parties are now awaiting Judge Benny Sagi. The expected sentence will be an important precedent, especially in light of the increase in the number of indictments against Israeli citizens who are suspected of cooperating with Iranian agents.