NEW YORK, Sep 29, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) — Bernard Madoff, architect of the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, had the opportunity to ask for forgiveness on Yom Kippur.
Officials at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons would not comment on whether Madoff took advantage of the day, the most sacred in the Jewish Calendar, ABC News reported. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, began at sunset Sunday and ended at sunset Monday.
Like other Jewish inmates in the federal system, Madoff was given the day off from his prison job at Butner Prison in North Carolina and would have been able to attend services Sunday evening, officials said.

Madoff’s victims may not care whether he asked for forgiveness.
“The law of holiday is that he can’t be forgiven by the Lord unless he gives us back our money,” Carla Hirschorn told ABC.
Madoff took in billions of dollars from investors, claiming to have investment skills that allowed him to provide a steady 10 percent to 12 percent return. In fact, the money went into repaying some investors, while Madoff spent millions on houses, boats and other goods.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International