Police Investigator Accuses Prosecution of Using Cases as Leverage
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Boaz Balt, head of the Israel Police's Investigations and Intelligence Department, has been recorded accusing the prosecution of using dormant cases as leverage against civilians. Haaretz legal correspondent Josh Breiner supported Balt's claims, criticizing the prosecution for lengthy case holds. The recordings raise concerns about "legal torture" and the misuse of investigations. The origin and timing of the recordings remain unclear.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Police investigator Boaz Balt claims prosecution uses dormant cases as leverage against civilians.
- Haaretz correspondent Josh Breiner supports Balt, criticizing prolonged investigation file holding.
- Balt describes cases being held for a year then reopened for pressure.
- The recordings raise concerns about "legal torture" and misuse of investigations.
- The timing and origin of the recordings are questioned by Breiner.
Boaz Balt, the head of the Israel Police's Investigations and Intelligence Department, has been recorded accusing the prosecution of using criminal cases against civilians as a means of pressure. Balt, in his role for approximately two years, reportedly described cases being held for extended periods and then reopened to pressure those involved. "I don't like it when the police are used as a tool. There are quite a few incidents where anyone with sense understands these are "drawer cases," you know, pressure tools they use on people, put in a drawer, nothing done with it for a year. After a year, they take it out and do a supplementary investigation," Balt is heard saying in the recording.
Haaretz legal correspondent Josh Breiner commented on the revelations, stating, "There is a lot of justice in Boaz Balt's words. It is unbearable that the prosecution holds investigation files for long periods. Why is there no indictment in the case of the Pazarit? Kobi Yaacobi? The commander of Lahav 433? Avishai Moalem? What?" Breiner added that the situation is "very bad" and opens the door to claims of using investigations as leverage. He emphasized that if there is evidence, an indictment should be filed, and if not, the case should be closed, calling the "legal torture" unbearable and dangerous.
Breiner also questioned the timing of the recordings, speculating they were made around the time Balt took office two years ago, possibly to allow the other party in the conversation, whose voice was not heard, to express themselves. He further criticized Itamar Ben-Gvir, suggesting the recordings represent a failure in his claim of establishing governance, as a police commander allegedly states that officers fear crime bosses in the Arab sector. Breiner concluded by suggesting that if someone was threatening police officers or making unsubstantiated insinuations, all conversations should be released to reveal what the police were occupied with instead of their duties.
