Russian Compound, Jerusalem - Activity against security in the region, Barred (from meeting with attorney)

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Observers: 
Roni Hammermann, Tova Szeintuch (reporting)
Feb-17-2020
|
Morning

Translation: Marganit W.

 

Judge: Lieut. Col. Zvi Einhorn

Police Investigator: Ihab Halabi

Defense: Maamoun Hashim

 

Remand extension hearings of three detaineesinfo-icon.

The hearing of Muhammad Abu-Ziad (one of two brothers) has been transferred to Ofer.

The brothers were arrested at their home in Bitunia on 12.2.20.

They are both in custody and are barred from meeting with counsel.

Roni and I attended two hearings – in one, we attended only the part where the defense tried to ask about the progress in the case of the detainee who is barred from seeing his attorney; the second hearing was in the presence of the detainee.

 

Haitam Fakher Mahmoud Abu Ziad – ID 402195341

Resident of Betunia

 

He was arrested on 12.2.20, charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and disrupting investigative proceedings.

 

The police investigator requests 8 additional days to complete the investigation.

This is the second remand extension.

 

Questions and answers between Atty. Maamoun and the investigator:

 

Q: Are the suspicions new? The charge is: running over someone.

A: Referral to the secret file.

Q: Has he linked himself to the incident?

A: Referral to the secret file.

Q: Is there significant progress in the investigation?

A: There are several developments. (Refers the court to the relevant section).

Q: Is it true that the detainee denies all the allegations?

A: At this point yes.

Q: What is the time period?

A: It is updated to recent weeks.

Q: Is there a phone call backing these allegations?

A: Referral to the secret file.

Q: How many times has he been interrogated?

A: Three times. He is under investigation now.

 

Roni and I were asked to leave the court for the second part of the hearing when the detainee entered the court.

 

Ossama Hamed Saleh Zaha – ID 906424106

Born in Dir Sudan on 25.5.74, arrested on 13.2.20.

Suspected of risking security in the area and of conspiracy to commit a crime.

 

The police requests 11 additional days. The detainee was summoned to the police station and showed up on his own.

 

Q: Was he arrested at home? On what grounds?

A:  Referral to the secret file.

Q: With whom did he conspire?

A: Referral to the secret file.

Q: How many hours was he interrogated?

A: On 14.2 – 14:15-17:10

     On 15.2 – 10:30 – 18:15; 20:50-0:45

Q: Can you confirm that all the charges were presented to him in detail?

A: Yes.

Q: The detainee works in a cement factory: as part of his job, he handles money. Where is the violation? Despite the intensive interrogations, there is no new evidence.

A: Referral to a specific clause in the report.

Q: Is there progress in the investigation?

A: A certain progress. It is all included in the secret file. There is ground to assume that if he is released he may be able to disprove the charges brought against him.

 

Defense summation:

I said at the outset that I don’t accept that Osama committed any crime. He works in a cement factory in Qalandiya, in charge of finances.

In his interrogation he was asked if he knows “Farhi”. The suspect told the truth.

There is no need for such a long remand extension. Due to his age and his occupation, such a long remand is not warranted.

 

Judge’s decision:

 “Having examined the material, I find that there is reasonable suspicion that warrants  keeping him in custody.”

 

Finally, balancing the severity of the suspicions and the need for further interrogation the judge ordered 8 additional days.