JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli court sentenced Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's son to nine months in prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to illicitly funding his father's 1999 campaign to head the right-wing Likud Party .
But Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court delayed the start of Omri Sharon's jail term for six months, saying it was taking into account the condition of his father, who has been comatose since a January 4 stroke.
Omri Sharon had entered a plea bargain in the hope of reducing his sentence, as the counts against him -- perjury, fraud and breach of trust -- carry a maximum penalty of seven years in jail. But his lawyer said he would appeal against Tuesday's ruling.
The prime minister denied wrongdoing in the funding case, and
Israel's attorney-general last year dropped a related probe against him, citing lack of evidence