The first of 27 suspected members of a Jewish terrorist underground to be indicted went on trial here today after the prosecution agreed to drop charges of attempted murder and attempted sabotage.
The defendant, Noam Yinon of Moshav Keshet on the Golan Heights, has been charged instead with illegal possession and delivery of arms and membership in a terrorist organization. He was allegedly involved in the attempted sabotage of five Arabowned buses in East Jerusalem on April 27.
The attempt, which was foiled at the last minute by security forces, resulted in the exposure of the underground which is believed responsible for a serial of criminal acts committed or planned against Arab civilians during the past four years.
Yinon reportedly confessed that he delivered 50 mines to the underground for the purpose of using the high explosive charges to make the bombs planted in the buses. He said he acted at the orders of another defendant who has been described as the prime suspect in the plot but not otherwise identified to the public.
The prosecution decided to try Yinon separately from the rest of the group because his suspected off## was less serious than those of the others under indictment. Nevertheless, he faces a maximum sentence ## 10 years imprisonment. A verdict is expected Sunday.
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