The war against protection money in the south continues: The Beer Sheva Magistrate's Court sentenced Bilal al-Sana and Darar al-Sana to 32 months in prison, fines and compensation, after they were convicted, according to their confession, of extortion by threatening a bakery owner in the city and willfully sabotaging a vehicle.
According to the amended indictment, in which the defendants confessed. Bilal and Darar threatened and forcibly extorted a bakery owner in Beersheba in order to collect money from the business in exchange for protecting it. For about two months and on various occasions, the defendants came to the bakery, took products without paying for them and offered the bakery owner offers to help with the business.
After a short period of time, the defendants arrived at the scene and Bilal told the bakery owner, "I have to take money from this business, I won't let go, either the business is closed or I get something here, there's no such thing in between." The mafia owner called people close to him to "show presence" and try to drive the accused away. In response, the defendants threatened the victim: "Just for bringing people here, you won't get out of it alive, we're closing your business." In addition, Darar attacked those present and, together with Bilal, damaged vehicles parked near the bakery.
Protection (illustrative), photo: Eyal Margolin/Ginny
In the proceedings, which were conducted by attorneys Muhammad Suleiman and Tehila Nidam of the Southern District Attorney's Office, it was argued that "these are not people who failed their judgment on a one-time basis, but rather meticulous and systematic planning by the defendants as part of the phenomenon of sponsorship fees." It was further alleged that the defendants acted out of an economic criminal motive in order to make easy money on the back of an innocent person. In addition, the State Prosecutor's Office noted that this is a common phenomenon in the country and therefore real and tangible penalties should be imposed to denounce the phenomenon. On the other hand, the defense argued that the blame should also be placed on the complainant who, instead of going to the police, called his associates.
In sentencing, the Deputy President of the Court, Justice Anat Hulta, stated: "In the case before me, the complainant chose not to give in to the blackmail and not to cooperate with it. The defense seeks to credit the complainant's stand against the blackmailers and thugs and his failure to submit to them to the credit of the accused. This petition must be categorically dismissed. The complainant did not respond to the bullying and blackmail, and his opposition to them did not lead to the end of the affair and their departure from the scene and their parasitic intentions to pocket the complainant's livelihood from his labor. It is true that the complainant did not act "as a classic victim" in light of the acts of extortion and bullying using the "classic" methods. The complainant sought to protect his business and dignity and acted accordingly, but all this in response to the actions of the defendants and not out of his own initiative."
In addition, due to the explosiveness of the protection phenomenon in the Southern District, which the Supreme Court called a "plague of the region," the judge also took into account the considerations of deterrence. Bilal was sentenced to 44 months in prison (32 months in prison plus 12 months suspended sentence), a fine of NIS 3,000 and compensation of NIS 10,000 to the complainant. Darar was sentenced to 40 months in prison (32 months in prison plus 8 months suspended sentence), a fine of NIS 6,000 and compensation of NIS 10,000 to the complainant.
The indictment in the case was also filed against another defendant: Liran Itakharov, who was convicted according to his confession of threats, aiding and abetting willful sabotage of a vehicle and aiding and abetting aggravated assault. In light of his secondary role in the events, he was sentenced to 6 months in prison and compensation.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us