Homeless man stole food vouchers - and begged to stay in custody to get food

A homeless man in his 30s stole food vouchers worth 2,000 shekels from the welfare office in a central Israeli town. He was caught, but unusually asked to remain in custody to receive food. Ashkelon Magistrate's Court Judge Dorit Bonda criticized the police for insisting on arresting him and extended the detention by only one day.

Just before Rosh Hashanah, police arrested a homeless man after he stole food vouchers from the welfare office he had come to for treatment. At the center of the story is A., a homeless man in his 30s well known to welfare authorities. Last week, he came for treatment at the welfare department in a central Israeli town, ahead of being sent to a hostel. According to suspicion, he stole nine envelopes containing food vouchers worth 2,000 shekels. He was caught, and police insisted on requesting a five-day extension of his detention. Unusually, the homeless man himself asked to remain in custody and told the judge: "I did it because I needed food. The welfare worker needs to take me to the hostel, I am 100 percent disabled and have nowhere to go. I prefer to stay in custody and eat there." Ashkelon Magistrate's Court Judge Dorit Bonda sharply criticized the police request and extended the detention by only one day. The next day, police returned and requested another extension, and the judge emphasized that the suspect committed the offenses due to his difficult personal situation. Defense attorney Raz Keren Yeshua protested the unnecessary detention. Eventually, the homeless man was released, and the court ordered the decision to be forwarded for immediate treatment by the social services department in his city of residence.