Shas party leader Aryeh Deri was convicted of tax offenses Tuesday after pleading guilty to the charges as part of a plea bargain before the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court. Ahead of the plea, Deri resigned from the Knesset.
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The ruling came as Deri's resignation came into, enabling him to evade another conviction of moral turpitude, which would have banned him from politics for seven years.
Prosecutors in the case have asked for a 12-month suspended sentence and a fine of NIS 180,000 ($56,000). The plea deal included admitting to five income tax offenses and one of land tax violations.
The Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party Shas announced that Deri will remain at its helm, while Yosef Taieb, a former MK who is the head of the party's French-language activities, will be sworn in as an MK in his place.
