Doctor arrested in election bribery probe released without house arrest

The Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court ordered the release of a doctor arrested on suspicion of election bribery in the Negev, under restrictive conditions but without house arrest. The judge ruled that the strength of the suspicion had diminished and that the police did not justify their request to restrict his internet use.

The Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court ordered the release of a doctor arrested as part of an investigation into suspected election bribery in the Negev, under restrictive conditions but without house arrest. The judge ruled that the strength of the suspicion against him had diminished and that the investigation file had not progressed since the previous hearing. The police had requested to extend his arrest by six days and to ban him from using the internet, but the court did not grant these requests. The release was made with police consent. During the hearing, harsh criticism was voiced against police conduct, and it was stated that the suspect was engaged in encouraging voting through home circles and meetings, without evidence of distributing money. The affair began last week with the arrest of three residents on suspicion of distributing money in exchange for voting for Ra'am. The article quotes sources in the hearing who claim that "an injustice was done to him" and that it is a "disgrace, shame and scandal."