At the end of a hearing held today (Sunday) at the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court, the detention of the man suspected of placing the threatening letter against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was extended by three days. At the request of the suspect's lawyer, the court ordered a publication ban on his name.
Attorney Itamar Tzur, who represents the suspect on behalf of the Public Defender's Office, said that the letter was not a criminal threat. "This is a mentally challenged young man who is in a difficult mental state. It is clear to everyone that he has no intention of harming or threatening the prime minister, and all his actions stemmed from his mental state."
Attorney Zur added: "The conduct of the police in this case should turn on a red light, it is inconceivable that the police will crudely trample on the rights of a person with disabilities and not allow the defense attorney to meet him before the interrogation. The court was impressed by his condition and referred him for a psychiatric examination and settled for an extension of his detention of two days rather than a week as requested by the police."
The letter placed on the grave, photo: 27A
"He writes that he is looking at heaven's judgment and that he will not be harmed," the defense attorney said, adding: "This man should have received pre-interrogation counseling, counseling that he did not receive. The letter is incoherent and I think it is clear that it is necessary to take it to a professional, not a criminal body, in order to be examined. In my opinion, his act does not amount to threats."
Judge: "Indication of psychiatric competence test"
The court did not accept the police's request to extend the suspect's detention by a week, and wrote in its decision that under the circumstances, the young man would be transferred within 24 hours for psychiatric examination. The court added that there is an evidentiary basis linking the suspect to the offenses attributed to him, as well as his admission that he did write the letter.
"I do not accept the claim of the suspect's counsel that these are not threats. An examination of the letter shows that there are statements establishing this offense. The grounds for arrest are twofold, both dangerous and fear of disruption of the investigation process," the judge wrote, adding: "Since the investigation material indicates that the suspect requires a competency examination by a psychiatrist, I instruct the district psychiatrist to conduct a preliminary examination of the suspect in order to examine his fitness for detention."
Memorial of Lt. Col. Yoni Netanyahu, z"l, on Mount Herzl | Itai Beit On /GPO, Ben Peretz /GPO
The suspect, a 26-year-old resident of Kfar Saba, was arrested last night and at the end of his interrogation at the Lahav 433 cyber unit, he was imprisoned. Upon his arrest, the police said, "Upon receiving the report, a joint investigation was opened by the Israel Police and the Israel Security Agency, which included a variety of intelligence, technological and operational tools. A day after receiving the initial report, the suspect was located and arrested in southern Israel and taken for interrogation at the offices of the Cyber Unit."
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