Prosecutors' strike stops Hanegbi corruption case

Police investigators angered as dangerous suspects are let go, due to prosecutors' refusal to appeal in court and indict them.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST.COM STAFF
hanegbi at court_311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
hanegbi at court_311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
An ongoing strike by state prosecutors over working conditions - which has been in effect for over a month - is continuing to cause significant damage to police investigations, including that of former MK Tzahi Hanegbi. Anger is rising among police investigators who watch helplessly as suspects considered dangers to the public are let go.
Police sources have said that the strike is continuing to cause the release of dangerous alleged offenders, since state prosecutors are failing to show up in court to indict the suspects.
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Last week, Cmdr. Yoav Seglovitch said a total of 35 suspects - including alleged sexual offenders, violent offenders, suspects allged to have carried out robberies, dealt in drugs, and illegally possessed arms - have been let go as a result of the inablity to prosecute them, and the number has grown since.
In addition, the Prosecutor's organization rejected the request from the Jerusalem Attorney's Office to allow one of its lawyers to break the strike and work on Hanegbi's corruption case.
"The strike has been going on for a month, and has led to a severe and significant blow to the ability of law enforcement in Israel, as well as the safety and property of the general public," Seglovitch said.
As the strike continues, motivation among police ranks has been affected, as officers have seen their long investigations unravel with the release of suspects by courts.