World | Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:31pm EDT

Convicted spy Pollard loses challenge to U.S. parole conditions

NEW YORK | BY NATE RAYMOND

Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer convicted of spying for Israel, on Thursday lost a bid to overturn restrictive probation conditions imposed when he was released in November after serving 30 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan denied a challenge by Pollard to requirements imposed by the U.S. Parole Commission that he wear an electronic tracking device and submit his work computer to monitoring.

Pollard's lawyers argued the conditions were arbitrary. They argued that he posed no flight risk, nor a threat to disclosing secrets as he would need to remember information from over 30 years ago that they said had no remaining value.

They contended that leaving the computer restriction in place was preventing Pollard from taking an investment firm job.

But Forrest ruled that the commission had a rational basis for imposing both conditions, such as Pollard's expressed desire to leave the United States for Israel, where his wife lives and where he was granted citizenship while in prison.

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