25 nov 2018
Yinon Reuveni, who is serving 5.5-year prison sentence for setting fire to the Church of Loaves and Fishes in 2015, expresses remorse for his actions in an effort to ease his conditions; 'I understand the many mistakes I made along the way,' he writes.
Yinon Reuveni, who is serving a 5.5-year sentence in prison for setting fire to the Church of Loaves and Fishes in 2015, has made an unusual confession and expressed remorse for his crime in an effort to ease his conditions.
The Jewish settler was initially sentenced to four years in prison. He appealed the ruling to the High Court of Justice, which decided to increase his sentence to five-and-a-half years.
Reuveni wrote a letter two months ago, which has only just come to light, expressing remorse. "The years that have passed gave me a lot of time to think, and today I'm in a different place," Reuveni wrote.
"I understand the many mistakes I made along the way, I understand I was with the wrong company, I understand I was pushing the boundaries of the gray area, including by breaking administrative orders," he continued. "Today I see things differently than when I was a teenager, I know reality is more complex and life is not black and white. I caused suffering to my parents, my family, and those around me, and mostly I did a disservice to myself."
A year ago, Reuveni got married in prison at a small wedding that included only first-degree relatives. Since then, he has been asking the Israel Prison Service (IPS) to ease his strict imprisonment conditions so he could have a relationship with his wife.
"There are a lot of examples of Hilltop Youth who were in one place and, after having started a family, are now in a different place," Reuveni wrote, referring to extremist right-wing settler youth who live in illegal outposts. "They became productive members of society, and that is exactly what I want to be. I love the state and the people. I got here because I didn't think enough. Today I still love this country and want to be loyal to the homeland and follow the laws of the State of Israel."
Reuveni was also questioned in connection with the Duma arson affair and the murder of the Dawabsheh family, and on suspicions of additional Jewish terror offenses. He was one of the top targets of the Shin Bet's Jewish Division.
Reuveni was, until recently, both a prisoner and a detainee. His legal status changed after the district court ordered to release him from detainment as part of a price tag case against him, and now he remains only a prisoner. Reuveni and his family hope the change in legal status would mean a change in his conditions.
"Now his legal status is similar to that of many other Jewish security prisoners who are imprisoned in religious wings and are allowed phone calls and visits from their families," one of Reuveni's relatives explained. "There's no reason Yinon can't have the same conditions. We hope the cruelty towards him ends. He got married, he wants to start a new life, to be rehabilitated and start a family. There's no reason why he shouldn't be allowed that."
The Church of Loaves and Fishes, which is run by the Order of Saint Benedict, is considered one of the most important churches in Israel. Christians believe the church is built on the site where Jesus performed the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. It is a traditional site of pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
In June 2015, Reuveni and several others torched the church, causing extensive damage to two rooms and the structure's exterior. Reuveni also defaced the limestone wall with red paint denouncing the worship of idols.
Yinon Reuveni, who is serving a 5.5-year sentence in prison for setting fire to the Church of Loaves and Fishes in 2015, has made an unusual confession and expressed remorse for his crime in an effort to ease his conditions.
The Jewish settler was initially sentenced to four years in prison. He appealed the ruling to the High Court of Justice, which decided to increase his sentence to five-and-a-half years.
Reuveni wrote a letter two months ago, which has only just come to light, expressing remorse. "The years that have passed gave me a lot of time to think, and today I'm in a different place," Reuveni wrote.
"I understand the many mistakes I made along the way, I understand I was with the wrong company, I understand I was pushing the boundaries of the gray area, including by breaking administrative orders," he continued. "Today I see things differently than when I was a teenager, I know reality is more complex and life is not black and white. I caused suffering to my parents, my family, and those around me, and mostly I did a disservice to myself."
A year ago, Reuveni got married in prison at a small wedding that included only first-degree relatives. Since then, he has been asking the Israel Prison Service (IPS) to ease his strict imprisonment conditions so he could have a relationship with his wife.
"There are a lot of examples of Hilltop Youth who were in one place and, after having started a family, are now in a different place," Reuveni wrote, referring to extremist right-wing settler youth who live in illegal outposts. "They became productive members of society, and that is exactly what I want to be. I love the state and the people. I got here because I didn't think enough. Today I still love this country and want to be loyal to the homeland and follow the laws of the State of Israel."
Reuveni was also questioned in connection with the Duma arson affair and the murder of the Dawabsheh family, and on suspicions of additional Jewish terror offenses. He was one of the top targets of the Shin Bet's Jewish Division.
Reuveni was, until recently, both a prisoner and a detainee. His legal status changed after the district court ordered to release him from detainment as part of a price tag case against him, and now he remains only a prisoner. Reuveni and his family hope the change in legal status would mean a change in his conditions.
"Now his legal status is similar to that of many other Jewish security prisoners who are imprisoned in religious wings and are allowed phone calls and visits from their families," one of Reuveni's relatives explained. "There's no reason Yinon can't have the same conditions. We hope the cruelty towards him ends. He got married, he wants to start a new life, to be rehabilitated and start a family. There's no reason why he shouldn't be allowed that."
The Church of Loaves and Fishes, which is run by the Order of Saint Benedict, is considered one of the most important churches in Israel. Christians believe the church is built on the site where Jesus performed the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. It is a traditional site of pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
In June 2015, Reuveni and several others torched the church, causing extensive damage to two rooms and the structure's exterior. Reuveni also defaced the limestone wall with red paint denouncing the worship of idols.
22 nov 2018
The interior minister is suspected of fraud and breach of trust, perjury, tax evasion and money laundering in 4 different cases, including the sale and acquisition of properties, and money he received and failed to report to the proper authorities.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri allegedly committed tax evasion offenses amounting to NIS 2 million.
The Israel Police and the Israel Tax Authority said Tuesday there was sufficient evidence to indict the Shas leader in a number of cases for fraud and breach of trust, perjury, tax evasion and money laundering.
The affair began with a covert investigation by the police and the Money Laundering and Terror Finance Prohibition Authority over suspicions of unusual activity in the bank accounts of Minister Deri and his family members.
Investigators noticed transfers of hundreds of thousands of shekels from businessmen to the minister's family—some before his return to politics and some after.
The first case against Deri deals with the sale of apartments and lands in Jerusalem's Givat Shaul neighborhood owned by the minister to his brother, attorney Shlomo Deri. While the deals were reported to the Tax Authority, they were reported at only 50 percent of their real worth. Tax Authority investigators suspect Deri and his brother tried to evade the full payment of two kinds of taxes—purchase tax and capital gains tax on real estate.
In the second case, Minister Deri is suspected of tax evasion in a deal to purchase a lot in Moshav Safsufa (Kfar Hoshen), in northern Israel. The land owner received NIS 500,000 in cash, the property was listed under Deri's daughter and son-in-law's names, and the sum was not reported to the Tax Authority.
In addition, three contractors who built the Deri family's vacation home on the lot, as well as a handyman who worked on the property, received their pay in cash money, which came from an unknown source. Here, too, the payments were not reported to the Tax Authority.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri allegedly committed tax evasion offenses amounting to NIS 2 million.
The Israel Police and the Israel Tax Authority said Tuesday there was sufficient evidence to indict the Shas leader in a number of cases for fraud and breach of trust, perjury, tax evasion and money laundering.
The affair began with a covert investigation by the police and the Money Laundering and Terror Finance Prohibition Authority over suspicions of unusual activity in the bank accounts of Minister Deri and his family members.
Investigators noticed transfers of hundreds of thousands of shekels from businessmen to the minister's family—some before his return to politics and some after.
The first case against Deri deals with the sale of apartments and lands in Jerusalem's Givat Shaul neighborhood owned by the minister to his brother, attorney Shlomo Deri. While the deals were reported to the Tax Authority, they were reported at only 50 percent of their real worth. Tax Authority investigators suspect Deri and his brother tried to evade the full payment of two kinds of taxes—purchase tax and capital gains tax on real estate.
In the second case, Minister Deri is suspected of tax evasion in a deal to purchase a lot in Moshav Safsufa (Kfar Hoshen), in northern Israel. The land owner received NIS 500,000 in cash, the property was listed under Deri's daughter and son-in-law's names, and the sum was not reported to the Tax Authority.
In addition, three contractors who built the Deri family's vacation home on the lot, as well as a handyman who worked on the property, received their pay in cash money, which came from an unknown source. Here, too, the payments were not reported to the Tax Authority.
The Deri family's summer home in Safsufa
In a third case, Deri is suspected of failing to report money he received from business elements—to the Tax Authority, the Knesset and the State Comptroller.
The fourth case concerns a NIS 200,000 loan Deri received—when he was not in office as an MK or minister—from businessman Ilan Sharabi. Deri failed to report the loan to the Knesset Speaker and the State Comptroller after being elected to parliament, and did not pay back the loan to Sharabi. When confronted about the matter, Deri explained he "forgot" about it. Later, he intervened in a legal matter to benefit Sharabi's interests.
After the police and Tax Authority announced there was sufficient evidence to indict Deri, the minister's office said in response: "We believe that when the prosecution examines the matter, the suspicions will be lifted, and it would become clear Minister Deri did not break the law."
In a third case, Deri is suspected of failing to report money he received from business elements—to the Tax Authority, the Knesset and the State Comptroller.
The fourth case concerns a NIS 200,000 loan Deri received—when he was not in office as an MK or minister—from businessman Ilan Sharabi. Deri failed to report the loan to the Knesset Speaker and the State Comptroller after being elected to parliament, and did not pay back the loan to Sharabi. When confronted about the matter, Deri explained he "forgot" about it. Later, he intervened in a legal matter to benefit Sharabi's interests.
After the police and Tax Authority announced there was sufficient evidence to indict Deri, the minister's office said in response: "We believe that when the prosecution examines the matter, the suspicions will be lifted, and it would become clear Minister Deri did not break the law."
19-year-old Ashkelon resident gets jail time after making false threats to thousands of institutions, embassies, malls and airlines as well as extorting a US senator, among others; 'he's sick,' defendant's father says of autistic son.
An Israeli-American youth who was convicted of making thousands of false bomb threats to companies and institutions around the world—including to Jewish communities in the United States, Australia, Ireland and England—was sentenced Thursday to ten years in prison and was ordered to pay a NIS 60,000 fine.
After the verdict was read, the defendant's father cried out that his 19-year-old son "is sick."
Judge Zvi Gurfinkel took into account the fact the young man, a resident of the southern city of Ashkelon, suffers from autism and therefore gave him a more lenient sentence. "If it wasn’t for his medical condition, I would have sentenced him to 17 years in prison," the judge said.
Five months ago, the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court convicted the 19-year-old blackmailer of computer related offenses, extortion, and making false statements that caused panic and disruption.
Attorney Yoni Hadad of the State Attorney's Office's Cyber Department said the defendant "acknowledged the damage he caused to people around the world. He wanted to terrorize the public."
"We intend to appeal the conviction, which is unprecedented," said Yoram Sheftel, the young man's attorney. "As the sages say—he who is compassionate to the cruel will ultimately become cruel to the compassionate. A court system that takes pity on Hezbollah terrorists is not surprisingly cruel to a mentally challenged youth with a 100 percent disability rating."
From 2015 until his arrest, the defendant called thousands of different institutions, malls, embassies and airlines and made false bomb threats, leading to mass evacuations. In 48 cases, the suspect called police stations and threatened to hold small children and family members hostage, in some cases, police forces were rushed to the scene.
The defendant also contacted another individual and conspired to blackmail Delaware Senator Ernesto B. Lopez. His accomplice called Lopez and demanded money while threatening to murder his daughter. In addition, the defendant made several threatening phone calls to George Little, a former Pentagon spokesman.
"He claimed terror attacks were about to take place while using sophisticated internet tools to hide his identity. He paid for these calls with Bitcoin, and used a voice changer to conceal his real voice. His goal was to cause public panic and media hype that would intensify the damage he caused. He offered services for a fee and posted them on Darknet forums. The defendant charged $40 for a threatening call to a private home, and $500 for making a bomb threat," Judge Gurfinkel said.
"To this day he is hiding his virtual wallet, and the money is still under his control," the judge added.
The judge also mentioned that the defendant had offered dangerous drugs for sale, and uploaded videos explaining how to make threatening videos. "He received NIS 800,000 worth of Bitcoin and even hired assistants," Gurfinkel added.
The defendant kept making threatening phone calls and bomb threats to various institutions and schools while in detention.
"I did it because I was bored," he told police. He also said he enjoys "seeing people running around in panic."
In October, the cyber department of Israel's State Attorney's Office submitted to the court another indictment against the defendant, this time for attempting to escape custody.
On his way back to a detention center the defendant apparently succeeded in opening one of his leg shackles with an improvised lock-pick and tried to escape. However, Israel Prison Service (IPS) officers immediately gave chase and managed to tackle and drag him back to the detention center.
The case was uncovered last year after a joint investigation by Israeli, American, and other international law enforcement agencies.
The young man also faced charges in the United States, but the US Justice Department eventually decided not to seek his extradition and instead allow him face trial in Israel.
An Israeli-American youth who was convicted of making thousands of false bomb threats to companies and institutions around the world—including to Jewish communities in the United States, Australia, Ireland and England—was sentenced Thursday to ten years in prison and was ordered to pay a NIS 60,000 fine.
After the verdict was read, the defendant's father cried out that his 19-year-old son "is sick."
Judge Zvi Gurfinkel took into account the fact the young man, a resident of the southern city of Ashkelon, suffers from autism and therefore gave him a more lenient sentence. "If it wasn’t for his medical condition, I would have sentenced him to 17 years in prison," the judge said.
Five months ago, the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court convicted the 19-year-old blackmailer of computer related offenses, extortion, and making false statements that caused panic and disruption.
Attorney Yoni Hadad of the State Attorney's Office's Cyber Department said the defendant "acknowledged the damage he caused to people around the world. He wanted to terrorize the public."
"We intend to appeal the conviction, which is unprecedented," said Yoram Sheftel, the young man's attorney. "As the sages say—he who is compassionate to the cruel will ultimately become cruel to the compassionate. A court system that takes pity on Hezbollah terrorists is not surprisingly cruel to a mentally challenged youth with a 100 percent disability rating."
From 2015 until his arrest, the defendant called thousands of different institutions, malls, embassies and airlines and made false bomb threats, leading to mass evacuations. In 48 cases, the suspect called police stations and threatened to hold small children and family members hostage, in some cases, police forces were rushed to the scene.
The defendant also contacted another individual and conspired to blackmail Delaware Senator Ernesto B. Lopez. His accomplice called Lopez and demanded money while threatening to murder his daughter. In addition, the defendant made several threatening phone calls to George Little, a former Pentagon spokesman.
"He claimed terror attacks were about to take place while using sophisticated internet tools to hide his identity. He paid for these calls with Bitcoin, and used a voice changer to conceal his real voice. His goal was to cause public panic and media hype that would intensify the damage he caused. He offered services for a fee and posted them on Darknet forums. The defendant charged $40 for a threatening call to a private home, and $500 for making a bomb threat," Judge Gurfinkel said.
"To this day he is hiding his virtual wallet, and the money is still under his control," the judge added.
The judge also mentioned that the defendant had offered dangerous drugs for sale, and uploaded videos explaining how to make threatening videos. "He received NIS 800,000 worth of Bitcoin and even hired assistants," Gurfinkel added.
The defendant kept making threatening phone calls and bomb threats to various institutions and schools while in detention.
"I did it because I was bored," he told police. He also said he enjoys "seeing people running around in panic."
In October, the cyber department of Israel's State Attorney's Office submitted to the court another indictment against the defendant, this time for attempting to escape custody.
On his way back to a detention center the defendant apparently succeeded in opening one of his leg shackles with an improvised lock-pick and tried to escape. However, Israel Prison Service (IPS) officers immediately gave chase and managed to tackle and drag him back to the detention center.
The case was uncovered last year after a joint investigation by Israeli, American, and other international law enforcement agencies.
The young man also faced charges in the United States, but the US Justice Department eventually decided not to seek his extradition and instead allow him face trial in Israel.
21 nov 2018
Nayef Yabin Yassin
A video from 2016 shows 2 police officers humiliating Nayef Yabin Yassin, a resident of the northern city of Arraba; 'The vehicle's wheels are square instead of round,' Yassin was told after protesting his detention.
A video from 2016, in which police officers are seen humiliating Arraba resident Nayef Yabin Yassin was released on Monday.
Yassin was detained on suspicion of committing a traffic violation. After protesting his detention, the policemen told the Arraba resident they intend to give him a NIS 200 ticket and remove his vehicle off the road, claiming "the vehicle's wheels are square instead of round."
The policemen are suspected of mocking Yassin. They repeatedly told him that the wheels of his vehicle are square, adding, "All the wheels should turn together, which they don't. How did you get your driver's license?"
Yassin's son, Mustafa, filed a complaint with the Police Internal Investigations Department. "The officers' behavior is a disgrace to the police. The most embarrassing thing is that they incriminated themselves in the video," he said.
"Today it's my father, tomorrow it can be any other old man," he lamented.
Attorney Ori Narov, who represents Yassin, said, "It is impossible not to be shocked by the video in which police officers are seen bullying an Arab driver, humiliating and degrading him, while exploiting Yassin's lack of Hebrew proficiency for their apparent personal amusement."
"Astonishingly, it appears the police officers documented their own offensive and inappropriate conduct," Narov went on to say.
"The entire incident reeks of racist police conduct," he concluded.
The Racism Crisis Center called on the police to immediately launch an inquiry into the incident, and bring the officers involved to justice.
"The police should make maximum effort to prevent the reoccurrence of the kind of offensive, humiliating, and racist behavior that is seen in the video to strengthen the public's trust in the law enforcement system," the Racism Crisis Center added.
Knesset member Ahmad Tibi (Joint List) demanded the Police Commissioner to immediately fire the two police officers from the force.
"(We witnessed) a despicable and contemptible behavior. The police officers filmed and distributed their shameful conduct, and they should be kicked out of the police as soon as possible," Tibi opined.
The police issued a statement, saying, "An inquiry launched into the incident shows that the video was filmed during a law enforcement activity in 2016, during which the driver was caught while driving with severe vehicle malfunctions. Therefore, the vehicle was taken off the road and the driver was fined.
"Nevertheless, the conduct of one of the police officers involved in the incident, is unacceptable and does not correspond with the values and norms expected of a public servant," the statement read.
"Even though over two years have passed since the incident, a disciplinary proceeding has been launched into the matter.
"We would like to stress that this unusual behavior does not represent all police officers, who carry out law enforcement activities on a daily basis, giving service to millions of civilians—Jews and Arabs—in a dedicated, professional manner and with mutual respect for each and every person," the statement added.
A video from 2016 shows 2 police officers humiliating Nayef Yabin Yassin, a resident of the northern city of Arraba; 'The vehicle's wheels are square instead of round,' Yassin was told after protesting his detention.
A video from 2016, in which police officers are seen humiliating Arraba resident Nayef Yabin Yassin was released on Monday.
Yassin was detained on suspicion of committing a traffic violation. After protesting his detention, the policemen told the Arraba resident they intend to give him a NIS 200 ticket and remove his vehicle off the road, claiming "the vehicle's wheels are square instead of round."
The policemen are suspected of mocking Yassin. They repeatedly told him that the wheels of his vehicle are square, adding, "All the wheels should turn together, which they don't. How did you get your driver's license?"
Yassin's son, Mustafa, filed a complaint with the Police Internal Investigations Department. "The officers' behavior is a disgrace to the police. The most embarrassing thing is that they incriminated themselves in the video," he said.
"Today it's my father, tomorrow it can be any other old man," he lamented.
Attorney Ori Narov, who represents Yassin, said, "It is impossible not to be shocked by the video in which police officers are seen bullying an Arab driver, humiliating and degrading him, while exploiting Yassin's lack of Hebrew proficiency for their apparent personal amusement."
"Astonishingly, it appears the police officers documented their own offensive and inappropriate conduct," Narov went on to say.
"The entire incident reeks of racist police conduct," he concluded.
The Racism Crisis Center called on the police to immediately launch an inquiry into the incident, and bring the officers involved to justice.
"The police should make maximum effort to prevent the reoccurrence of the kind of offensive, humiliating, and racist behavior that is seen in the video to strengthen the public's trust in the law enforcement system," the Racism Crisis Center added.
Knesset member Ahmad Tibi (Joint List) demanded the Police Commissioner to immediately fire the two police officers from the force.
"(We witnessed) a despicable and contemptible behavior. The police officers filmed and distributed their shameful conduct, and they should be kicked out of the police as soon as possible," Tibi opined.
The police issued a statement, saying, "An inquiry launched into the incident shows that the video was filmed during a law enforcement activity in 2016, during which the driver was caught while driving with severe vehicle malfunctions. Therefore, the vehicle was taken off the road and the driver was fined.
"Nevertheless, the conduct of one of the police officers involved in the incident, is unacceptable and does not correspond with the values and norms expected of a public servant," the statement read.
"Even though over two years have passed since the incident, a disciplinary proceeding has been launched into the matter.
"We would like to stress that this unusual behavior does not represent all police officers, who carry out law enforcement activities on a daily basis, giving service to millions of civilians—Jews and Arabs—in a dedicated, professional manner and with mutual respect for each and every person," the statement added.
20 nov 2018
Shas leader Aryeh Deri suspected of tax evasion amounting to millions of shekels, money laundering, fraud and breach of trust, perjury; 'Minister Deri was specifically told not to talk to involved party, but he approached him immediately after his questioning,' police say.
The Israel Police and the Israel Tax Authority recommended Tuesday to indict Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) for fraud and breach of trust, perjury, tax evasion and money laundering.
According to the police, the investigation found sufficient evidence to charge Deri with fraud and breach of trust over his conduct towards a businessman while serving as a minister; tax offenses amounting to millions of shekels; money laundering; obstruction of justice; and perjury in the false written declarations he submitted to the State Comptroller and Knesset speaker about his assets and earnings.
Police said that Deri "was specifically told not to talk to one of the involved parties about the issues under investigation for fear of evidence tampering, but the minister approached that involved party immediately after his questioning and discussed with him the things said in the questioning and his expected testimony to the police, as well as 'refreshed' his memory."
The investigation also found sufficient evidence to indict the minister's brother, attorney Shlomo Deri, who serves as the vice chairman of Karen Kayemeth LeIsrael, for tax offenses amounting to millions of shekels.
Police also said there's sufficient evidence to charge other suspects with money laundering and tax offenses.
The affair began with a covert investigation by the police and the Money Laundering and Terror Finance Prohibition Authority over suspicions of unusual activity in the bank accounts of Minister Deri and his family members.
Investigators noticed transfers of hundreds of thousands of shekels from businessmen to the minister's family—some before his return to politics and some after.
Investigators also looked into sale and acquisition deals of lots in Jerusalem and Safsufa (Kfar Hoshen), Deri's statements to the Knesset speaker and state comptroller, missing reports in capital statements to the Tax Authority, and more.
The investigation became public in April 2016, following which dozens of suspects were questioned. In May 2017, Deri was first questioned under warning.
"The suspicions necessitated a thorough, complex and demanding investigation, which was conducted by the Lahav 433 unit along with the Tax Authority and prosecutors from the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Taxation and Economics Division," a shared statement said.
The police are still investigating other suspicions concerning Deri, which they say are part of a different case.
Deri's office said in response: "We welcome the conclusion of the police investigation, which lasted almost three years. We were pleased to learn the suspicions of accepting bribes, theft from NGOs and others—which at the time were what led to the opening of the investigation—have been shelved. We believe that when the prosecution examines the matter, the other suspicions will be removed as well, and it would become clear Minister Deri did not break the law."
Shlomo Deri's attorney, Yaron Kosteliz, also siad he was confident the prosecution would reach the conclusion his client committed no offense and forego an indictment.
In 2000, Aryeh Deri was sentenced to three years in jail after being convicted of taking $155,000 in bribes while serving as interior minister. He was released from prison in 2002, after serving 22 months, but returned to politics only in 2011. He was re-elected to the Knesset in 2013. After the 2015 elections, Shas became a member of the government and Deri was appointed minister of the economy and minister of the development of the Negev and Galilee. He returned to the Interior Ministry in January 2016.
The Israel Police and the Israel Tax Authority recommended Tuesday to indict Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) for fraud and breach of trust, perjury, tax evasion and money laundering.
According to the police, the investigation found sufficient evidence to charge Deri with fraud and breach of trust over his conduct towards a businessman while serving as a minister; tax offenses amounting to millions of shekels; money laundering; obstruction of justice; and perjury in the false written declarations he submitted to the State Comptroller and Knesset speaker about his assets and earnings.
Police said that Deri "was specifically told not to talk to one of the involved parties about the issues under investigation for fear of evidence tampering, but the minister approached that involved party immediately after his questioning and discussed with him the things said in the questioning and his expected testimony to the police, as well as 'refreshed' his memory."
The investigation also found sufficient evidence to indict the minister's brother, attorney Shlomo Deri, who serves as the vice chairman of Karen Kayemeth LeIsrael, for tax offenses amounting to millions of shekels.
Police also said there's sufficient evidence to charge other suspects with money laundering and tax offenses.
The affair began with a covert investigation by the police and the Money Laundering and Terror Finance Prohibition Authority over suspicions of unusual activity in the bank accounts of Minister Deri and his family members.
Investigators noticed transfers of hundreds of thousands of shekels from businessmen to the minister's family—some before his return to politics and some after.
Investigators also looked into sale and acquisition deals of lots in Jerusalem and Safsufa (Kfar Hoshen), Deri's statements to the Knesset speaker and state comptroller, missing reports in capital statements to the Tax Authority, and more.
The investigation became public in April 2016, following which dozens of suspects were questioned. In May 2017, Deri was first questioned under warning.
"The suspicions necessitated a thorough, complex and demanding investigation, which was conducted by the Lahav 433 unit along with the Tax Authority and prosecutors from the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Taxation and Economics Division," a shared statement said.
The police are still investigating other suspicions concerning Deri, which they say are part of a different case.
Deri's office said in response: "We welcome the conclusion of the police investigation, which lasted almost three years. We were pleased to learn the suspicions of accepting bribes, theft from NGOs and others—which at the time were what led to the opening of the investigation—have been shelved. We believe that when the prosecution examines the matter, the other suspicions will be removed as well, and it would become clear Minister Deri did not break the law."
Shlomo Deri's attorney, Yaron Kosteliz, also siad he was confident the prosecution would reach the conclusion his client committed no offense and forego an indictment.
In 2000, Aryeh Deri was sentenced to three years in jail after being convicted of taking $155,000 in bribes while serving as interior minister. He was released from prison in 2002, after serving 22 months, but returned to politics only in 2011. He was re-elected to the Knesset in 2013. After the 2015 elections, Shas became a member of the government and Deri was appointed minister of the economy and minister of the development of the Negev and Galilee. He returned to the Interior Ministry in January 2016.
5 nov 2018
According to the indictment, a combat soldier from the Home Front Command kicked and punched a Palestinian detainee whose eyes were covered, causing injuries to his head and back; IDF: 'this is a serious matter that is not taken lightly.'
Jaffa Military Court charged an IDF combat soldier from the Home Front with aggravated assault on Monday, after a Military Police investigation revealed that the soldier kicked and punched a Palestinian detainee who was bound with his eyes covered at a military post in the West Bank.
The incident took place in May at the Shaked outpost in Samaria when the detained Palestinian was brought in along with two other Palestinian detainees to the base's detention cell.
According to the indictment, at one point, the soldier entered the cell and mocked the three Palestinian prisoners: "When did you last shower?" when did you last put water on your body?" he taunted them.
One man replied that he did not understand what he was saying. Later, the soldier returned to the room after allegedly hearing the prisoners cursing him in Arabic.
The investigation of the Military Police Investigation Unit (MPCID) revealed that the defendant repeatedly beat the Palestinian detainee with his fists and kicked him several times; causing bleeding and injuries to his head and back.
While he was hitting the Palestinian, the soldier cursed his victim and only when another soldier intervened did he stop and left the cell. He was also charged with inappropriate conduct.
"Hurting detainees is a serious matter that is not taken lightly. The IDF is working on discipline and adherence to rules in this matter," The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement.
Jaffa Military Court charged an IDF combat soldier from the Home Front with aggravated assault on Monday, after a Military Police investigation revealed that the soldier kicked and punched a Palestinian detainee who was bound with his eyes covered at a military post in the West Bank.
The incident took place in May at the Shaked outpost in Samaria when the detained Palestinian was brought in along with two other Palestinian detainees to the base's detention cell.
According to the indictment, at one point, the soldier entered the cell and mocked the three Palestinian prisoners: "When did you last shower?" when did you last put water on your body?" he taunted them.
One man replied that he did not understand what he was saying. Later, the soldier returned to the room after allegedly hearing the prisoners cursing him in Arabic.
The investigation of the Military Police Investigation Unit (MPCID) revealed that the defendant repeatedly beat the Palestinian detainee with his fists and kicked him several times; causing bleeding and injuries to his head and back.
While he was hitting the Palestinian, the soldier cursed his victim and only when another soldier intervened did he stop and left the cell. He was also charged with inappropriate conduct.
"Hurting detainees is a serious matter that is not taken lightly. The IDF is working on discipline and adherence to rules in this matter," The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement.
