Tokyo Japan – Youngest of 3 Yeshiva Bochurim Sentenced to Prison for Smuggling Drugs

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    Tokyo Japan – The youngest of three Israeli Yeshiva students accused of smuggling drugs from Israel into Japan, has been sentenced today.

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    According to preliminary reports, the judge gave his verdict, sentencing Yosef Bandau from five to eight years in prison, from which 266 days he already served, and a third off for good behavior. The judge also order to pay a fine of 4 million yen roughly about 40,000 $USD.

    Their attorneys claimed the arrests were the product of a sting operation that took advantage of the youths’ innocence and that they had been enticed with money.

    The sentence provides that after he has completed five years of his prison term he will be brought before a committee that will discuss his case and determine whether or not he can be released on good behavior.

    Lawyers in the case have proposed that Bandau should to be extradited to Israel and serve the rest of his sentence in the State.

    According to the Geneva Convention extradition treaty, a formal request for extradition from the state of Israel has to be submitted to the Justice minister of Japan, according to VIN News sources who confirmed that this will likely happen within the next few days, and Japan is willing to accept such a proposal as it was put forward to them last year and had no rejection.

    No date has been set yet for a hearing of the two other yeshiva students, but according to attorney Mordechai Tzivin who is representing them, a date should be set within the next 3 months.


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    169 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    rachmuna litzlon

    yidel
    yidel
    14 years ago

    R”L

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I feel bad for the family but they are always very harsh on drugs in Japan so under their laws, the sentence was not unusual. Yiddeshe bochurim have to know that drugs are still considered as a major crime in most countries of the world, even if the laws are not rigorously enforced in EY or the U.S.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    we should all boycott Japaneeses made cars and their items to show our protest!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Oh Gavald!! Hasham yaricheim!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Rachmona yatsiline

    Charles Hall
    Charles Hall
    14 years ago

    Hopefully the governments of Japan and Israel will arrange for him to serve his sentence in Israel.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    nebbach-We must do our parts to contribute to Pidyon Shvuyim. Every single woman out there should take upon herself an extra obligation in tzniyus. The mother of one of these unfortunate bochurim has written a heartfelt plea requesting that we try to upgrade our tzniyus level in whatever way we can. If we each do our little part, surely HKB”H will have rachmanus, not only in this tragic area, but surely we will reap the rewards for our efforts by enjoying more bracha and hatzlacha in our lives!

    Think Positive
    Think Positive
    14 years ago

    The judge agreed to have him serve in Israel, and part of the time can be taken off for good behavior.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    And this goy who sent them is out for bail

    smart boy
    smart boy
    14 years ago

    oy vey nebech hashem yrachem moshiach should come now i think its time for the tzoras to stop because i cant take it any more

    Obamination
    Obamination
    14 years ago

    he can get off a third for good behaiviur. and askunim are trying now to cunvince the judge to let let him serve the sentens in an israeli prison. hashem yirochem

    Hashem please help
    Hashem please help
    14 years ago

    There aren’t any words to express this pain. Lets continue to daven for miracles. Lets watch our language and in that zechus Mossiach will come and he will be released earlier. Hashem is capable of all miracles. Poor boy poor families. Hashem please help

    yoeli
    yoeli
    14 years ago

    wow i cant beleve it

    Ahem
    Ahem
    14 years ago

    Although this is unconfirmed, I heard from a family source that they are trying to get him to sit out his sentence in Israel. On the one hand, ti’s a relief that ti’s not a much longer sentence, as was expected. On the other hand, this boy, innocently sitting there for four years. It’s just horrifying.

    Also, why is it only 266 days? He was imprisoned last year before Pesach some time.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    He’s is going to sit in e”y but its going to take a few monts

    moshe
    moshe
    14 years ago

    we have to thank hshem, it could have bin much worst. and we have to be thankful for all the askonim, a tremendous amount of work went in to this case. he will have a zchus that now people will be more careful not to take packages from strangers and it will prevent problem in the future. may hshem help the parents should carry it easy.

    Cranberry stuffer
    Cranberry stuffer
    14 years ago

    I am really crying here, those poor boys, poor parents. We need Moshiach already!

    Lebediger
    Lebediger
    14 years ago

    Please REMEMBER don’t take any packages for anyone, you never know when it will hit you

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    kol hakavod for the chbad ruv over there who gave $40000

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    : The judge has reportedly agreed for the extradition to Israel, but the law needs to be changed. This will take some time.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    2 yrs 7months too long but at least B”H this Bochur will have a future.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Judge Ruled there is Also a FINE of “$40,000” Dollars, Yossi Bondo has to Pay, Besides the 5 Years Prison

    PMO
    PMO
    14 years ago

    R”L
    We should be thankful that such a fair sentence was handed down. Clearly the circumstances were taken into account here. This was a VERY good outcome.

    Herelle
    Herelle
    14 years ago

    My understanding is they where arrested before pesach last year, this means they are jailed for a year and a Month or so, how is it possible they only served 266 Days?

    Hashem Yerachem
    Hashem Yerachem
    14 years ago

    This is R”L a “death” sentence for this bochur, and the same for their parents, nebech.
    Worse than that, it gives an idea of how harshly the other two will be sentenced, as this one was a minor then.
    U’teshuva, Tefila, U’Tzedaka mavirin es roah hagezeira.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Do they have time off for good behavior in Japan? Do they have Parole in Japan, and can this be appealed?
    One day in prison is like five years!
    Hashem give strength to the bocherim and their families.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    ya you know these people offfer you to take some vitamins to ey

    Oy a Pachad!!
    Oy a Pachad!!
    14 years ago

    דער אומשולדיג בחורל וועט נעבעך מוזען שמאכטען אין א יאפענער טורמע – השם ירחם!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Is there not any slight possibility that they had an inkling as to what they were doing? I mean obviously we have to be Dan L’Kaf Zchus, but I’m not sure the Japanese police are simply foolish anti-semites…Of course I feel for the boys & daven for them just the same, but there seems to possibly be more to the story……..maybe I’m wrong….

    GO OUT AND PROTEST
    GO OUT AND PROTEST
    14 years ago

    I think we should make a big protest outside the Japanese embassy!!!!!!!!!!!!

    It would help!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    R”l but with hashems help, he will emerge from this, and will be fine iy”h/

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The problem is they in the end said they knew. The papers revealed that. Under strong questioning they revealed that they did know exactly what was in their bags. So why would they get leniancy?

    id like to make a  point to consider
    id like to make a point to consider
    14 years ago

    the sentence for the guy that sent them to japan should be a day for each day each bochur is sentenced and he should do his time in japan and the three boys should do it in israel

    one point the boys knew they were doing smuggling and they thought it was antiques not drugs but if i am correct it is still a crime

    people should be mispallel but also take the time for every yeshiva to explain to the bochrim what evil can happen if they shlep a package

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    any type of protest will only anger the japenees they are a very proud people and it will fire back.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Let’s not for get about the other 2 bucheren

    Daniel
    Daniel
    14 years ago

    To Mr. Anonymous #1 :

    You’re still at it, eh?

    What on earth would we do if you weren’t here to tell us how correct and honorable the Gentiles are?

    Chremsel
    Chremsel
    14 years ago

    When you commit a crime, with or without intent, you are guilty of committing the crime. You are punished more if it’s with intent and slightly less without intent.

    When you double park, you commit a crime.
    When you cross the street on a red light or a ‘don’t walk, you commit a crime.
    When you throw trash or cigarette butts out of your car, you commit a crime.
    When you honk your car horn like a meshigener for no emergency reason, you commit a crime.
    When you give your friend some of your prescription drugs, you commit a crime.
    etc. etc. etc.

    Just because you’re not caught or the NYPD couldn’t care does not make your criminal acts legal. After awhile you get used to doing the above items or other criminal activities and to you it all seems fine and dandy.

    Obey the laws of the land as well as Halocho and all will be well.

    berel
    berel
    14 years ago

    #1 ..how many times does it have to be repeated that they were conned and didnt know it was something illegal?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    For one, the boy has immense relief after sitting over a year in the dark not knowing when the trial date would be and how harsh his sentence would be. And two ,not to say I don’t feel the pain the are going through,but this is clearly a case of hashem, destining each person his future. So people don’t give up hope soon ….soon we will all be oasgelaizt and all destinys will wind into one.

    jacob
    jacob
    14 years ago

    Crime doesn’t pay. These “yeshiva bochrim” got light sentences because of the generosity of the klal.

    karma dude
    karma dude
    14 years ago

    7, 16, 17, 20, 23, 25, 35- Read the article before you comment please, most of us don’t need to read what we just did again like it’s some kind of original thought you came up with.
    30, 40- You’re morons.

    misterzee
    misterzee
    14 years ago

    dont trust your best freind/that is a bunch of hogwash,the world is built on chesed and trust.how about being careful and suspicious.i am a cancer patient in israel who needs stuff that i sway better and cheaper in usa,nobody should help me according to your logic
    rebettzin kanievesky wrote a letter on my behalf to a wealthy benefactor in usa,i had it laminated and sent my mother in law to the airport to send to america,u had to be blind not to see that it was a simple letter laminated on a thin plack,aftr an hour she gave up.
    that is your idea of chesed?maybe dont give a car ride to a stranger,he may plant drugs in your car,
    these boys knew something was amiss and there was a false bottom to the suitcase,may not have known it was drugs,but they knew it wads contraband and they were not fling to a mamleches chesed like the usa or israel,so pleae continue taking pacakages and if you hava a doubt,inspect the pacakage,but you still have a chiyuv chesed,or convert to chrishtanity

    ShatzMatz
    ShatzMatz
    14 years ago

    Since I am familiar with Japanese culture I can tell you that any suggestion of a protest or boycott is counter productive. The court system over there is entirely independent and it is impossible to sway them by political or public pressure. The concept of compassion also does not exist over there. The society there is very disciplined and rigid. Therefore, the only solution is by working through the foreign ministry to arrange for the boys to serve there time in Israel. They will not make any special exceptions for anyone, but I understand that there is such a thing in Japan, but only after you serve over half your sentence.

    In either case, this is a tough spot to be in. The only glimmer of hope is that these boys have already been “broken -in” to Japanese prison life, so serving their sentence going forward will not be so tough. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that the trauma will affect them for life.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    It says in the article…According to preliminary reports, the judge gave his verdict, sentencing Yosef Bandau to five years in prison, from which 266 days he already served…
    Why only 266 days? Didn’t this happen about 14 months ago which would be already over 400 days?

    hopefull
    hopefull
    14 years ago

    Is it possible that after extradition to isreal to have the japanese verdict appealed? So he will have a lighter sentence, or even an aqcuitall?????

    anon
    anon
    14 years ago

    these posts are sickening. they knew what they were doing and took the money they received very happily. there is no rachmana l’tztlan here. drugs kill people. drugs are illegal for a reason. how many lives could they have helped destroy by transporting these drugs? that ever occurred to them? THAT is the rachman l’tzltan here.

    let ’em rot.

    you people are so brainwashed.

    Y B U K
    Y B U K
    14 years ago

    this is a light sentence according to japan not anti semitic,, nebech a harsh one for the innocent bochurim,, everyone should take upon themself to better themself in the way they know what is lacking,, kol hakovod to rabbi sudakevitch and his rebbitzin (chabad tokyo),, dont be fooled and dont take packages for anyone without checking “all” its contents,, last but not least hang the perpetrators,, hand them in,, stop them using and abusing for drug smuggling or anything.. let us all daven for a yeshua and the geula YB

    Dr. E
    Dr. E
    14 years ago

    I agree with #48 . Why is #24 so fixated on Tzniyus? Whenever something bad happens, all of the neviim out there become experts on why it happened. Leave tzniyus out of it. It’s way too overrated anyway. Just let people be normal and follow normative Halacha….and be advised to never take packages from strangers.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    To #46 -
    He is a “Rishusdik” Young Man. Chassidish by true definition means going above and beyond what’s required of you. Being Machmir when others may be more maikel. How exactly is the rasha who set these kids up, “Chassidish”? Levush does not make a man Chassidish. One’s actions and way of life, do. There are far too many “Chassidim” whose connection begins and ends with how they dress, V’ze Hu! Everything else about them is krum. I am not saying all, just many. In case some of you missed it, I’m referring to the guy who gave the kids the drugs (and other “Chassidim” like him). Not, the kids themselves.