Police Failures in Assault Case of Minor: 'Gross Negligence, the Offender Benefited'

The State Attorney's Complaints Commissioner, retired judge Menachem Finkelstein, revealed a series of serious failures in the police handling of a case involving the assault of a minor. The proceedings, which began in 2022, have yet to reach a hearing, and the defendant has benefited. The commissioner determined that this constitutes 'gross negligence' with implications for the minor and his family. Additionally, complaints were addressed regarding the removal of sensitive materials from the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office and a conflict of interest involving a municipal prosecutor.

The State Attorney's Complaints Commissioner, retired judge Menachem Finkelstein, published today (Sunday) decision summaries on complaints received recently, in which he revealed a series of serious failures in the police handling of a case involving the assault of a minor. The proceedings, which began in 2022, have yet to reach a court hearing, and their conclusion is not in sight. The commissioner described the conduct as 'gross negligence' and determined that due to the prosecution's failures, the accused attacker 'benefited'. The proceedings began about four years ago, when a father filed a complaint on behalf of his minor son who was assaulted. The police prosecution was negligent, and the accused managed to leave the country and did not appear for hearings. The indictment was dismissed because the accused could not be located, due to a failure by the prosecution. After the accused returned to Israel, the proceedings were not renewed for about a year and three months due to what was described as a 'mistake'. The commissioner determined that the failures could have significant implications for the minor victim, his family, and the ability to conduct the legal proceedings. In another case, it was found that a former intern at the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office removed sensitive materials from the office without authorization and transferred them to another person. Another complaint was found justified against a municipal prosecutor who canceled a fine on a business owned by a relative, in violation of the rule prohibiting conflicts of interest.