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Japan: Isreali Bochur Freed from Prison

by Hillel Fendel – Arutz Sheva

Israel — The youngest of three Israeli yeshiva students accused or convicted of smuggling drugs into Japan has been released from prison.

Yosef Banda of Bnei Brak, one of three boys who were the subject of a national and international campaign to achieve their freedom while awaiting trial in Japan, is now home. He was released two weeks ago following the signing of a presidential pardon by President Shimon Peres two weeks ago, Yeshiva World News reports.

Nearly two years ago, Banda was convicted in Japan and sentenced to 5-8 years in prison. However, Japan allowed him to serve most of his sentence in Israel, which he began doing ten months ago. He was known by the masses around the world who prayed for him as Yosef ben [son of] Ita Rivka.

Two other boys are still awaiting the final stages of their trials in Japan. They are known as Yoel Zev ben Mirel Reesa Chava and Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel.

The three were apprehended in Japan in April 2008 after drugs were found in their possession – inside a suitcase a “friend” asked them to take for him. The three said they did not know what was in the suitcase, and even passed a lie detector test to this effect. The “friend” was later found and is now serving a three-year prison term in Israel.

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10 Comments

  • didan notzach

    for those who need one-
    with Hashem’s amazing help, very very very happy news!!!

  • Boruch Hashem

    If you let the young one go before the other two are dealt with, won’t Japan take a harder line with them?

  • me

    The “friend” was later found and is now serving a three-year prison term in Israel

    he is getting away with ‘murder’
    those poor boys have longer sentences and much worse conditions.
    israel should send him to japan to serve out his sentence.

  • Distressed

    I cannot fathom, for the life of me what is going on here??? If this ”friend” r”l, has now been found, then why on earth arent ALL the bochurim released, like , NOW, if they’ve found the guy who actually was responsible for this whole tragic story???
    And whats more, why oh why ,is this nothing of a ‘person’ NOT GETTING LIFE??
    He has totally and completely destroyed 3 beautiful innocent lives.. . . forever:( :(
    At least he should be given a loooooooong taste of all that the boys have been and are going through. . . . the sheer hell that they are in . . . its beyond all imagination
    THREE years they’ve given him???????? How tragic!!!!!!!

  • baruch hashem

    baruch hashem, look on the bright side , 1 of the bochurim were released!!!!!!thats compared to a whole world!!1

  • Margalit

    BS”D

    BARUJ BARUJ HASHEM!!!

    JADASHOT TOVOT MAMASH!!! HODU LAHASHEM KI TOV, KI LEOLAM VAED!!!

  • Peninah Casgtro

    Baruch HaShem, We are so grateful to HaShem for hearing all our tefillah’s, may the Almighty continue to intervene for the rest of the miracle to bring all of the boys home. For His Mercy Endureth Forever!!