Judge Criticizes Police as Last Suspect in Ra'am Bribery Case Released

A Beersheba Magistrate's Court ordered the release of Ibrahim Al-Garbi, the final suspect held in connection with an alleged election bribery scheme in the Negev for the Ra'am party. The police agreed to his release but opposed the court's refusal to impose house arrest. The judge criticized the investigating unit, stating that the investigation had stalled and the police struggled to present evidence implicating Al-Garbi in the alleged offenses. The judge noted that despite previous hearings and appeals, the police had not advanced the investigation or made genuine efforts to examine the suspect's claims. He also questioned why the police had not released Al-Garbi themselves instead of bringing him back to court. Al-Garbi was the last of seven suspects arrested in the case, with the others having been released in recent days, some to house arrest. The investigation concerns suspicions of election bribery in the Negev, involving the alleged distribution of funds in exchange for votes for the Ra'am party. The release of the suspects does not signify the end of the investigation or the dismissal of suspicions against them.