Ahuvia Sandak, z”l; Photo courtesy of the family
Honenu is representing those who are insisting on the investigation of the death of Ahuvia Sandak z”l who was tragically killed in a police car chase and defending the many who are being detained while demonstrating for change in police behavior. The car Ahuvia was in with four other boys overturned when the police car collided with it from behind. Please click here for a list of posts connected to the case.
Thursday, October 28, 2021, 10:42 On behalf of the family of Ahuvia Sandak, z”l, who was killed in a police car chase in December 2020, Honenu sent a letter to the State Prosecutor, Amit Eisman, demanding that he order the policemen suspected of involvement with the death to stand trial as soon as possible. The letter details the difficulties the family has suffered and the contradictions in the testimonies of the policemen that were discovered during the investigation of Sandak’s death.
Attorney Ariel Atari, who is representing the family, opened the letter by stating the family’s concerns: “From the start, the family had doubts with regard to the integrity of the investigation, which was transferred from investigators in the Police Investigation Unit to investigators in the Israeli Police, despite the inherent possibility that information would leak to policemen in the Yehuda and Shomron Police [the department of the policemen in the car chase]. Also, it appears that nobody disputes that the policemen involved [with Sandak’s death] gave testimony that, from the start, concealed the fact that they had hit the car, and only later was different testimony given.
“On the face of it, if their hands were clean, they would not have given contradictory testimonies like that. Moreover, it is difficult to ignore the fact that the change in testimony was made after the policemen had the opportunity to coordinate testimony.”
Avraham Sandak (L) and Atty. Atari (R); Photo credit: Honenu
Atari cited the lack of progress in the case, and what the Sandak family has been enduring due to the delays: “Drawn out legal proceedings are a cause for concern not only for a suspect. A victim waiting for justice to be served to the guilty parties suffers considerably more. The parents of the deceased, Ahuvia, and the entire family have had their days turned into nights and nights into days. They are tensely waiting for a decision to be made that will allow those responsible for their beloved son’s death [to be prosecuted]. It is obvious to [the family] that the task is complex and delicate. However, it seems that more than enough time has passed since the investigation was completed and the evidence received. We know this in light of what was said in the framework of the investigation into the cause of death.”
The letter concluded with a demand from the Sandak family to the State Prosecutor: “In light of the above, we ask his Honor to act quickly and to order those charged with the death of Ahuvia, z”l, to stand trial.”
Scene of the incident
Immediately after the incident occurred, a traffic inspector was sent to the scene of the incident on behalf of the family. His expert opinion is that the police car intentionally collided with the youths’ car, which caused it to turn over, killing Sandak and injuring the other youths who were in the car. For details about a suspected police cover-up concerning the cause of Ahuvia’s death, including denial that the police car had hit the youths’ car, please click here: Ahuvia Sandak, z”l: “Making Sense of the Facts”.