JERUSALEM (JTA) — A French court sentenced Israeli-Russian billionaire Arcady Gaydamak to six years in prison for illegal arms dealing.
Gaydamak, a businessman who owns the Israeli soccer team Beitar Jerusalem, was sentenced Tuesday for being involved in the deals in the 1990s.
A French and Israeli citizen, he left Israel for Moscow 10 months ago. France and Israel have an extradition treaty; Russia and France do not.
Gaydamak and a partner formed a company to sell $791 million dollars worth of illegal arms, including tanks, helicopters and a warship, to the Angolan government. The operation involved about 40 suspects, including French government officials and public figures.
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