Top Police Investigator Accuses Prosecution of 'Drawer Cases' for Pressure

Boaz Balt, the head of the Israeli Police's Investigations and Intelligence Directorate, has been recorded making sharp criticisms of the legal system, including the State Prosecutor's Office and the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash). Balt alleges that the prosecution holds onto cases, referred to as "drawer cases," for extended periods, only to use them later as leverage to pressure individuals. He claims this practice can involve delaying investigations for a year before reopening them.

Balt also extended similar accusations to Mahash, suggesting that the department uses its investigative tools against police officers who deviate from the norm, effectively deterring them. "They use the same tools against police officers through Mahash. If you deviate in any way, you're summoned for questioning," he stated.

Furthermore, Balt criticized the prosecution's handling of crime in the Arab sector, asserting that cases are neglected and left unresolved. He expressed concern that the prosecution is not adequately managed and focuses too narrowly on public corruption, seemingly ignoring other critical areas. "Today, the prosecution in the State of Israel is not managed, it is not managed, it is managed solely in one niche called public corruption and all other things are as if they do not concern them," Balt was recorded saying.

In addition to his criticisms of the prosecution and Mahash, Balt accused police officers of fearing Arab crime families. He suggested that officers are hesitant to engage with known criminals, citing the example of a prominent crime family that is reportedly checked far less frequently now than in the past. Balt attributed this reluctance to officers' fear of repercussions and the presence of female officers, which he believes discourages engagement.