Jerusalem - Israeli Bochur Convicted of smuggling drugs in Japan Is Released After Completing His Sentence

Jerusalem - Israeli Bochur Convicted in Japan Is Released After Completing His Sentence

Jerusalem - Yosef Bando, the youngest of the three Israeli boys imprisoned in Japan after being convicted of smuggling drugs, is now a free man after receiving time off for good behavior and having his sentence reduced, with the approval of the Japanese government, by Israeli president Shimon Peres.

Bando, known by the masses around the world who prayed for him as Yosef ben Ita Rivka, a resident of Bnei Brak, and two other Chareidi bochurim were apprehended in Japan in April 2008 after drugs were found in a suitcase they were carrying for someone else. The three bochurim, all of whom professed their innocence, passed a polygraph test and the owner of the drug laden suitcase is now serving a three year prison sentence in Israel.

While both Israeli and Japanese law allow for a committee to grant a one third reduction in the length of a prison term for good behavior, Israeli law permits the reduction to be granted even before two thirds of the sentence has been served, while Japanese law stipulates that the one third reduction can only be given after two thirds of the sentence has already been served.

Bando was transferred to Israel from Japan last March and was legally bound only by Israeli law but the Israeli government is vigilant in following the laws of the country where the sentence was originally being served. Japanese authorities graciously agreed to allow Bando to take advantage of the Israeli law and apply for the one third reduction in his sentence even before two thirds of his sentence had been served.

Additionally, Japanese authorities were amenable to President Peres’ shortening of Bando’s sentence by one year, which set into motion the completion of Bando’s term and his release.

“Once his term had been sentenced to four years, the three years that were served constituted two thirds of the actual prison term and with the additional reduction of one third of his term for good behavior, Yosef Bando has completed his sentence and was released from prison,”

Tzivin, who represents the other two imprisoned Israeli bochurim expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government for working hand in hand with Israel to allow for Bando’s release.

“The biggest thanks here goes to the Japanese authorities,” said Tzivin. “We could never have accomplished this without their permission and blessing. The Japanese government showed their compassion and proved that they are sensitive humanitarians.

Many other countries would not have worked with us in such a way and there are no words to express our appreciation to the Japanese authorities. I am confident that in due time, the judge in the case of the other two boys who are being held in this case will find them not guilty and they will be allowed to go free as well.”