The former head of the Arrow missile project at Israel Aircraft Industries, Dov Raviv, was pardoned yesterday by President Ezer Weizman. Raviv will be released from prison some two months before his sentence was originally scheduled to end.
Sources close to Raviv told "Globes" that although the pardon shortened Raviv’s term of imprisonment by only a short period, it recognized "the good in his work in developing and advancing the Arrow plan, and other matters in which he was involved during his years at IAI."
Raviv was convicted on counts of bribery, fraud and betrayal of trust, while serving as manager of the Arrow missile project, and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. The pardon was granted partially out of health considerations. It should be noted that Raviv underwent head surgery on the eve of his trial. Also taken into consideration was Raviv’s service to the nation.
The April 1993 ruling determined that at the time he headed the Malam plant, Raviv received $175,000 in bribes from the owners of Canadian company Armada, which was chosen by Raviv as sole vehicle supplier to the Arrow project.
Raviv claimed that although he had received the money, this was merely a payment for private consulting work done on behalf of Armada. He admitted he had not received permission from IAI to work privately while employed by the company.