Russian Compound, Jerusalem - Shooting, Remand Extension

Translation: Marganit W.

Russian Compound

Judge: Kobi Suderi

Police Investsigator: Omri Awida

Defense: Atty. Firas Sabah, Atty. Judd Kadmani

The hearing started an hour late.

There were 9 cases in the docket, all with agreements between the defense and the police.

The judge was highly motivated to impose order in the court: he asked the attorneys not to lean on his desk, not to talk among themselves, to sit down, not stand; he called the interpreter to order when he left the hall and demanded that the commander of the detention center show up when the policemen brought in the suspects after a long delay.

Thus all 9 cases had to be heard in an hour and forty minutes.

Recently, in the village of Fajer, near Bethlehen, there have been incidents of shooting at vehicles on the main road. Most of the cases were connected to these incidents. We gathered that dozens of Palestinians from Fajer had been arrested, and the investigations were complicated.

We would like to highlight one particular case, because it demonstrates the unbearable lightness with which the police requests, and receives, remand extensions from the judges.

Ayman Nader Mubarak, ID 911062297.

He’s been in detention for 35 days now.

The police investigator requested an 8-day remand, and then “he will probably be sent home”.

The judge examined the documents and realized that the file had nothing in it. However, instead of releasing Ayman on the spot, he remanded him in custody for 4 days and instructed the police to determine after 4 days if the case should be passed on to the military prosecution or the detainee should be released!