Sharon's son quits parliament

2006-01-03 17:21

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's eldest son resigned his parliamentary seat on Tuesday, ahead of a January 22 sentencing over charges of illegal fund-raising for his father's 1999 election campaign, said a spokesperson.

Omri Sharon pleaded guilty in November to falsifying corporate documents, perjury and violating party funding laws.

Under a plea deal, prosecutors dropped charges of fraud and breach of trust, but were demanding imprisonment on the other counts.

The charges carried a maximum of five years in prison, but the sentence was expected to be lighter, possibly a suspended term or community service.

Under Israeli law, a legislator convicted of an offence defined as one of "moral turpitude" loses his or her seat.

Although the court had yet to rule on that issue, Omri Sharon's spokesperson Mirit Cohen said he didn't wish to draw things out more than necessary.

She said: "He saw no point in waiting." Prosecutors decided not to charge Ariel Sharon with involvement in the same scandal.

- AP