Yehoshua Ben-Zion

Yehoshua Ben-Zion (1924 – 2004) (Hebrew: יהושע בן ציון‎) was an Israeli banker. He served as the managing director of Israel-British Bank. Following the collapse of the bank in July 1974, owing British investors £46.6 million, Ben-Zion was convicted of embezzling £20 million ($39.4 million) from the bank. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. After urging of the Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin in 1977, Ben-Zion was pardoned by the Israeli president Ephraim Katzir, on medical grounds. He was released after serving three years.[1][2]

Ben-Zion was born in Mandate Palestine and spent his childhood in the USA. He was a member of the Irgun and later became a colonel in the Israel Defense Forces. In 1972 he was a jurist in the trial of the women involved in the Sabena Flight 571 hijacking.[3]

In 1973 he was the president of Lydda Military Court, with rank of major.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Israel Yearbook on Human Rights 1979, Volume 9; Volume 1979 By Yoram Dinstein, p. 2011
  2. ↑ Justice in Israel: a study of the Israeli judiciary, p. 241
  3. ↑ "Woman on Tribunal to Try Sabena Girl Hijackers." Jewish Telegraphic Agency 31 Jul 1972.
  4. ↑ Langer, Felicia (1974) With my own eyes. Israel and the Occupied Territories 1967-1973. Ithaca Press. ISBN 0-903729-10-5. Pages 124-126.