CHIBA, Japan – The saga of Yakov Yosef Grunwald may be nearing its end, as a letter from the Japanese Ministry of Justice indicates they will now go on to the final chapter and will shortly notify of the release date where he will be transferred to Israel to officially serve the remainder of his six-year sentence in Israel.
The latest communication from the Japanese chided Israel for not abiding by the prisoner transfer agreement with previous prisoners but indicated they will release Yakov Yosef shortly.
Basically, they are satisfied that everything is OK and they will now be dealing with the conclusion of this matter, and that they will, without giving any dates, decide on a timeline for collecting Yakov Yosef.
In the nine months since Yakov Yosef’s appeal was rejected in the High Court in May 2011, his askonim and legal team had been concerned that the lengthy stay indicated the Japanese were reluctant to release him before completing his two thirds of his sentence. But the Japanese missive explained that they were upset that Israel had released the youngest of the 3 bochurim before he even finished serving two thirds of his sentence as required by Israeli law, and in addition they miscalculated the sentences of previous transferred prisoners. Israel had discounted a third of all sentences, including the number of days the prisoner was supposed to serve in lieu of payment of a fine. That amounts to an extra day for every 10,000 Yen owed.
These extra days, called “working days” as opposed to the regular “serving days,” may not be discounted for good behavior, something Israel had been doing until now.
They asked Israel that from now on they should not do this anymore. Israel has as well in response sent an apology in relation to the release of the youngest of the three boys, Yossi, who was released before finishing his two thirds that has caused the major delay in transferring Yakov Yosef. Its is clear that Yakov Yosef was the one to pay a heavy price for that.
Japan has hinted broadly already in the past that they wanted Yakov Yosef to serve at least two thirds of his sentence in Japan before transferring him. That date will be reached on April 2, according to the most lenient interpretation of the law.
But the Japanese have no problem sticking toward that version. I now expect that during March they will send a final reply, and in that final reply they will tell the Israelis to come to collect him. That will be at the end of March or the beginning of April.” As we are now only a month before the end of Yakov Yosef's two thirds, on his arrival to Israel, Yakov Yosef will now not enter a prison at all, but instead will come immediately before a parole board where he will be released very shortly after. He will be kept under some sort of detention until the release has been ordered. This procedure will hopefully be rushed and completed in days.
The other two bachurim arrested together with Yakov Yosef are already back in Israel. Yossi Bando has been out on parole since Jan of 2011, and Yoel Zev Goldstein was acquitted in August.
Please continue to daven for Yakov Yosef ben Reizel for his quick and safe transfer back to home.
Join a massive tehillim tehillim tele-conference for ladies, this Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 p.m. Call 718-258-2008 option 9 selection 1 to participate. See attached document for details.
Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel, the name that has been on our lips, in our minds, hearts and tefillos, has been in prison for almost four years - 46 months. The image of a Japanese jail cell, the hunger, cold, loneliness and pain is one of intense fear for all of us. Yet, for one boy this is not an image, it is his reality, and it has been for so long. The Askonim involved, together with the support of Klal Yisroel worldwide, have moved heaven and earth trying to ease Yaakov Yosef’s living conditions as well as to expedite his transfer to Erets Yisroel. Unfortunately, the transfer is taking much longer than expected, due to Japan’s scrutiny of past prisoners’ transfer and the terms of their transfers. Before Japan releases Yaakov Yosef, the government is investigating Israel’s policies toward transferred prisoners. Every time the Japanese government sends a question to Israel, the Israeli government must research and answer the question, and this is a lengthy and tedious process. Yaakov Yosef’s bags are packed, his papers are processed and he is ready to leave at a moments notice. The continuous questions by the Japanese government are holding up the transfer. We, his brothers worldwide, can do what Yidden have done throughout the ages, to create a change across the world. By opening our hearts and davening for Yaakov Yosef, we can expedite his transfer. Please join the tehillim tele-conference for ladies this Sunday, Feb 5 at 9 pm.
Please call 718-250-2008 option 9 selection 1.
May he see his yeshua soon.
