1 month ago
116
ARTICLE AD BOX
The Police Investigations Department has launched multiple investigations into Israel Prison Service Officers for crimes ranging from bribery to abuse of office.
By YUVAL BARNEA DECEMBER 2, 2024 18:37 Updated: DECEMBER 2, 2024 18:42
Nationl Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at a ceremony for the new Israel Prison Service chief Kobi Yaakobi, in Jerusalem. May 27, 2024.
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
The Police Investigations Department (PID) arrested a high-ranking officer in the Israel Prison Service (IPS) on Monday after an intense investigation into a series of crimes, including bribery, breach of trust, disclosure in breach of duty, and abuse of office.
The PID investigated the officer in a secret investigation due to his connection to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
In response, Ben-Gvir slammed the accusation and Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara in a public statement on Monday evening, saying that "a red line was crossed."
"The attorney general has embarked on a reckless, anti-democratic, and illegal campaign aimed solely at toppling the government and its leader through unlawful means," Ben-Gvir said.
"I demand that the government convene this Sunday to decide on establishing a public committee," he continued, saying that the committee should "examine whether the attorney general can continue to serve in her role."
There's little official confirmation of what exactly the police officer is suspected to have done. However, Israeli media has speculated that this is related to an older case in which police officers attempted to pressure a blogger who was critical of Ben-Gvir to retract his statements.
The blogger recorded the conversation and published it online, leading the officers to claim they acted in good faith and only wanted to have a "friendly" conversation with him.
Second officer detained
This was reported to the PID by an IPS Officer; the IPS officer was also detained for questioning on Monday following an attempt by the PID to question him.
PID officers arrived to speak to the senior IPS officer, blocking his car, leading to the IPS officer's subordinates drawing their weapons on the PID officers, reportedly due to belief this was an attempt to harm the senior officer.
PID officers identified themselves, leading the IPS officers to stand down; the senior officer was taken to work, but the PID was in convoy, including the IPS security detail.
Stay updated with the latest news!
Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter
PID later announced that the IPS officer was under investigation for obstructing investigations and breach of trust.
This IPS officer was also close with Ben-Gvir, having been appointed last year, with reports indicating they maintain a warm relationship.
In the past, Ben-Gvir has strongly condemned the detainment and investigation as a political witch-hunt, saying, "This is a coup d'état. The Attorney-General and the State Attorney are using the Police Investigations Department to deter a very senior officer in the Prison Service and officers in the police from implementing my policy and that of the right-wing government."
He was joined by Likud MK Moshe Saada, who said, "I have a criticism of some of the things that Itamar does as National Security Minister, of all kinds of his statements that I see as inappropriate, but from here to say that people are secretive in spite of him, it is not true. The police are independent, and the people there are. He cannot influence the investigations of the police or the prosecution of the police, and therefore, he has no power of influence as described in the appointments. There was always a tug-of-war between the minister and the commissioner; it always happened. It has always been, and unfortunately, it always will be."
Ben-Gvir's office has also been under investigation for improperly licensing guns to civilians in the early days of the war; he has also called that a witch-hunt.
English (US) ·