Judge who sentenced mob figures to receive police protection after threats

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
A judge who sentenced the head of a crime organization to 27 years in prison and two deputies to lengthy jail terms on Monday was under police protection on Tuesday after being threatened by one of the men he put behind bars. Musa Abu Shahada was sentenced to 27 years in prison, while deputies Hafez Shofri and Muhammad Shofri were sentenced to 26 years and 25 years respectively. Eight other people were also convicted on a range of charges including membership of a crime organization. "The day will come when you will hear from me," one of the men is alleged to have shouted at the judge after the sentence was read out. Tel Aviv police launched placed the judge under protection and tasked the department's Central Unit with heading an investigation into the threat. Two other Tel Aviv judges are currently under police protection following similar threats; Judges George Kara and Bracha Ophir-Tom.