The Supreme Court will give its decision on the appeal submitted by Rabbi Yoshiyahu, the head of the Shuva Israel institute.

In his appeal, Rabbi Pinto asked for the sentence of a year in prison to be replaced with six months of community service, out of concern for his health. The assigned prison term had been agreed upon by both sides as part of a plea bargain, after the defendant admitted to bribing a police officer.

The Court will not make its pronouncement directly to Rabbi Pinto, but rather will inform his lawyer.

Earlier the court held a closed discussion, while Rabbi Pinto’s followers gathered outside, singing and praying for their leader to be let off without punishment. By the end of the meeting, some of the followers began cursing at journalists and violently attacked a camera crew. Police and court guards separated the two sides.