Sharon’s son admits to forgery charges

ISRAELI Prim Minister Ariel Sharon’s son pleaded guilty yesterday to corruption charges.

Omri Sharon, a lawmaker and key adviser to his father, had previously said he would argue against charges he set up shell companies to funnel foreign donations to his father’s 1999 race to head the right wing Likud Party.

But Omri Sharon’s attorney said at the opening of his trial in Tel Aviv that he would not contest some of the counts on the indictment as part of a plea bargain with state prosecutors.

Although no charges were brought against the prime minister in the case, the scandal has embarrassed him at a time when he battles Likud hard-liners angered by the Israeli pullout from Gaza and struggles to keep together his coalition government.

Omri Sharon had been accused of perjury, fraud, and breach of trust, which carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence. Under the plea bargain, he pleaded guilty to reduced charges of forgery and violating campaign laws that limit foreign funding.

Lawyers have asked prosecutors to levy a cash fine only.

The Justice Ministry said it would seek jail time for Sharon, though this was expected to be less than the four years allowed by law.