Police violate rights of Bat Ayin detainees

Tuesday, August 28, 20:06 Today, the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police prevented a meeting between the youths and an attorney. Tomorrow, the court will decide whether or not to hold a deliberation in order to reexamine the evidence in light of the developments in the case and the new testimonies given.
Honenu attorney Adi Kedar submitted an urgent letter to the Jerusalem Juvenile Court, complaining about the conduct of the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police concerning the youths from Bat Ayin detained in the fire bomb (Molotov cocktail) case. According to Kedar, throughout the entire day the youths were prevented from meeting with an attorney, among other difficulties. After the court decided to hold a deliberation on the violation of the minors’ rights, the police capitulated and allowed an attorney to meet with the youths.
In the morning, Honenu attorney Rehavia Piltz arrived at the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police Station in Ma’ale Adumim in order to meet with the youths detained in the fire bomb case, as is permitted by law. Although he waited more than two hours the police investigators refused to admit Piltz and to allow the meeting to take place. During the day, Honenu attorney David HaLevi, who is representing the youths, arrived at the station and also waited for a lengthy period of time. In the end HaLevi also left the station after the police refused to allow him to meet with the youths.
Additionally, the brother of one of the detainees arrived at the station in order to give an alibi for his brother. According to him, the police delayed his interrogation for a long time and also threatened him and yelled at him.
In response to today’s violations of the minors’ rights, in addition to earlier violations, Kedar filed an urgent request with the Jerusalem Juvenile Court. In the letter Kedar demanded a deliberation on the violation of the minors’ rights. Kedar also sent urgent letters to the commanding officer and the juvenile officer of the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police concerning the conduct of the investigators. In addition to the violation of minors’ rights Kedar mentioned that the police have not yet clarified the alibis of the detainees despite the decision of the Supreme Court that that is the first stage required in an investigation. According to Kedar, two of the detainees gave alibis already on the first night after the incident and an alibi for the third detainee was given today by his brother. As of now, the alibis of the youths have not been presented in court.
The court accepted Kedar’s request and scheduled a deliberation for tomorrow morning. Following the court’s decision, the police changed their minds and allowed an attorney to meet with the youths.
In an additional request filed with the court by Kedar, he requested a reexamination of the evidence in the case in light of the developments in the evidence, including the alibi given today for one of the suspects and the testimonies of those injured by the fire bomb which were publicized in the media.
Yesterday and today, the media publicized the testimonies of two of the individuals injured by the fire bomb. According to one of them, an adult man approximately 26 years old threw the fire bomb. The second claimed in response to the detention of the youths, aged 12-13, that it couldn’t have been children who carried out the act. In light of the testimonies Honenu attorney Kedar wrote that it is most impossible to confuse a 26 year old man with a 12 year old youth and that therefore the evidence in the case should be reexamined.
The court replied that tomorrow morning a judge will decide if a deliberation reexamining the evidence will be held.