A dramatic decision: Central District Court Judge Ami Kobo accepted the request of attorney Adi Keidar of Honenu and attorney Tzion Amir, who represents the accused minor in the Duma arson case and ordered his release to house arrest under restrictive conditions. Among other things, the minor will be released with electronic cuffing and supervision.

A representative of the Central District Attorney’s Office asked the court to delay the decision to file an appeal to the High Court of Justice. The judge accepted the request and delayed the release until Sunday, 3 Menachem Av. The hearing took place at the request of the minor’s attorneys, in light of the court’s rejection of the minor’s confessions, following the torture he underwent during the interrogations by the Shin Bet.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked sent a letter to MK Yoav Ben-Tzur of Shas, responding to the motion for the agenda, which he submitted under the heading “The State Attorney’s Office supports the continued detention of the minor from the Duma affair despite the circumstances and despite the court’s comments.”

“The State Prosecutor’s Office informed me that on July 5, 2018, the court ordered that the Probation Service review be given to examine the possibility of releasing the minor and the possibility of placing him under electronic cuffing. The discussion of the decision to request a permanent release for tomorrow,” she wrote.

“In light of the picture that has been revealed to the public so far, I hope that the discussion of his detention will be conducted in a manner of mercy and the judges will enable the minor to conduct his trial outside jail, and as a general lesson from this unfinished affair, I suggest that all parties do not rush to decide fate according to headlines in the media,” she added.

The comments came in response to a request for a plenum meeting that was expected to take place earlier this week and was removed from the agenda at the request of MK Ben-Tzur in light of the minister’s reply.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)