The Supreme Court today refused to reverse the conviction of Likud MK Shmuel Rechtmann, who was sentenced by a lower court last December to 3-1/2 years in jail for accepting bribes from a contractor while serving as Mayor of Rehovoth. In rejecting Rechtmann’s appeal, the high court said it was convinced that the evidence given by the contractor and other State witnesses was valid. It also refused to shorten Rechtmann’s sentence.
He went to jail in February, to become the first Knesset member to be incarcerated while still holding his seat. Rechtmann’ refused to resign pending the outcome of his appeal. Today, Likud Whip Abraham Sharir, urged him to resign because” I believe that the legal procedure is completely exhausted. “But Rechtmann still refuses to quit. He said today that he wanted his lawyers to examine the Supreme Court’s ruling and consider a request for a second hearing .Sharir, for his part, said if Rechtmann does not resign the Knesset would have to pass legislation that would force him to do so. “It is unacceptable that a member convicted on two counts should continue to serve in the Knesset,” he said.
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