Last suspect in Ra'am election case released, judge criticizes police

The Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court ordered the release of Ibrahim al-Garibi, the last suspect in the Ra'am party election bribery case, after 8 days in custody. Judge Eran Tzabari criticized police for lack of progress in the investigation.

The Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court rejected the police's request to extend the arrest of Ibrahim Algaribi, the last suspect in the suspected election bribery affair involving Ra'am activists, and ordered his release without restrictive conditions after eight days in custody. Judge Eran Tzabari sharply criticized the police, stating that the investigating unit had made no progress in the case and had not presented a sufficient evidentiary basis. In his words, there was no logic in keeping the suspect under house arrest. Algaribi was arrested hours before the opening of polling stations for the 26th Knesset elections, along with two other suspects who have already been released. His defense attorney, Avishai Hillel, said the decision strengthens the claim that his client has no connection to the affair, which was inflated by various parties. A source in the investigation said there is no major drama indicating a shift in the substantiation of suspicions, but the investigation continues.