General convicted of sexual offenses demoted under plea bargain
Ofek Buchris, accused of rape, also given 7-month suspended sentence after confessing to unspecified sexual offenses
February 2, 2017, 11:36 am
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Ofek Buchris arrives at military court on February 2, 2017
An IDF military court demoted a
senior IDF officer who was accused of rape and admitted unspecified
sexual offenses as part of a plea bargain Thursday.
Ofek
Buchris, formerly a brigadier general, had his rank lowered to colonel
as part of the sentence. He was also given a suspended sentence of seven
months.
Buchris, a former head of the Golani infantry
brigade, had been accused of rape and sexual assault by two female
officers who served under him.
He denied the accusations at first, but later
took public responsibility for unspecified sexual offenses and a
prohibited sexual liaison in exchange for having the far more serious
crimes of rape and sexual assault dropped. The prosecution also agreed
not to seek jail time as part of the plea bargain.
Judges at the hearing said they agreed by a
majority vote to demote Buchris by only one rank, although a minority
opinion wanted to drop him two ranks.
“Acts like these damage the army and the
public faith in it,” said Military Judge Col. Orly Markman in her
summation. “As a soldier rises through the ranks — so he needs to set an
example.”
“The lowering in rank reflects his failure.
Lowering in rank is also symbolic and a statement. Unbecoming behavior
is an expression of command failure and values. It is important for the
defendant to take responsibility for his actions and to openly express
regret.”
Under the plea deal, Buchris was convicted of prohibited sexual relations by consent instead of three counts of rape.
The allegations against Buchris surfaced last
March, shocking the army brass, where he had been seen as a model
officer. Buchris resigned from the IDF in July 2016, although he may
return following his sentencing.
During a sentencing hearing on January 17,
deputy IDF chief of staff designate Aviv Kochavi praised Buchris’s
character, saying that “in his actions and general conduct he
demonstrated moral behavior,” while adding that “in all of the tasks he
carried out in the past he went above and beyond in fulfilling them and
is considered an outstanding commander,” the Hebrew-language daily
Haaretz reported.
The former head of the IDF’s Central Command,
Avi Mizrahi, also lauded Buchris’s character at the hearing, saying that
“he is a very realistic person, very brave and looks out for his people
and those who are in his immediate circle,” according to Haaretz.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/general-convicted-of-sexual-offenses-demoted-under-plea-bargain
1 comment:
There wasn't enough evidence to convict him but is this the same family?
http://www.jewishcommunitywatch.org/south-fallsburg-rabbincal-student-faces-child-sex-abuse-charges/
Haim Boukris, 29, of South Fallsburg, was arrested April 23 on a sealed indictment charging him with three counts of predatory sexual assault against a child and first-degree sexual abuse, felonies. He appeared in Sullivan County Court on Wednesday morning so his lawyer, Kenneth Gribetz of Gribetz & Loewenberg in New City, could argue for his $1 million bail to be lowered.
Boukris is studying at a South Fallsburg yeshiva to be ordained as a rabbi.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sullivan County District Attorney Jim Farrell said Boukris is charged with sexually assaulting the boy in the spring of 2011, in one incident. Farrell said he argued to keep the bail at $1 million. The predatory sexual assault against a child charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a maximum of 25 years to life.
“We do believe he is a substantial flight risk,” Farrell said. Boukris is an Israeli citizen.
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