Justice Minister Yariv Levin has appointed retired district court judge Yosef Ben-Hamo to oversee the criminal investigation into the Sde Teiman video leak, following a High Court ruling that cleared the way for him to make the selection.

Levin’s original choice — State Ombudsman for Judges Asher Kula — was rejected by the High Court after it ruled that the law bars the ombudsman from holding any additional roles while in office.

Ben-Hamo, born in Morocco, served on the Nazareth District Court from 2014 to 2020 before retiring at age 65. His earlier roles included deputy president of the Northern District Magistrate’s Court and a family court judge in the Nazareth Magistrate’s Court.

In a letter to Acting Civil Service Commissioner Daniel Hershkowitz, Levin noted that Ben-Hamo handled numerous criminal cases throughout his judicial career and meets all the strict criteria the High Court established, including having no political ties, strong legal expertise, and relevant experience connected to criminal investigations.

Under the court’s ruling, Ben-Hamo will now have full authority to “oversee and inspect” the criminal investigation into the Sde Teiman leak.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)