Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court judge told Shuki Forer to free Mayor Office

By illegally hiring a contractor for a public works project, the mayor of Rehovot committed crimes of moral turpitude and must resign, a Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court judge ruled yesterday. Yehoshua "Shuky" Forer was convicted in January of breach of trust, for awarding a contract without a tender in exchange for campaign donations from the contractor. The conviction was reached in a plea bargain. Forer had maintained that he could remain in office, but as a result of yesterday's ruling he was formally replaced as mayor by his deputy. Forer's lawyer said he will appeal the ruling.

Tomer Zarchin. News in Brief. haartez.com (2 April 2009)