Indictment for a Song Against a Police Officer: Attorney Barak Cohen Acquitted After 5 Years

Attorney Barak Cohen was acquitted today (Thursday) of the charge of insulting a public servant, five years after an indictment was filed against him for repeatedly performing a song he wrote against a police officer. The judge criticized the very filing of the indictment and ruled that using criminal law to address a creative work should be a last resort.

Attorney Barak Cohen was acquitted today (Thursday) of the charge of insulting a public servant, five years after an indictment was filed against him for repeatedly performing a song he wrote against a police officer. The indictment attributed to Cohen the offense of insulting a public servant for "repeated performance of a provocative song." The prosecution argued that Cohen continued his defiant actions in a manner that demonstrated his malicious motives to harm the complainant. The song, titled "Information Coordinator," was sold for 55 shekels per copy, with 108 copies sold. Cohen also performed the song at the "Ozen Bar" club and at the "IndieNegev 2018" festival. The judge acquitted him and ruled that it is doubtful whether the song, standing alone, establishes the offense of insulting a public servant. The judge criticized the very filing of the indictment and stated that using criminal law to address a creative work should be a last resort in a democratic state. The judge rejected Cohen's claim of selective enforcement.