Israeli Police Officer Questioned for Obstructing Murder Investigation in Jerusalem

On Wednesday, a police officer from the traffic division was interrogated under warning by the Israeli Police Investigations Department (Mahash) on suspicion of obstructing justice and breach of trust during the investigation of the murder of Benyahu Razi. The officer, related to one of the suspects, met with two suspects shortly after the killing at an Airbnb apartment in Jerusalem's Nahlaot neighborhood. During this meeting, she was updated on the incident and took actions that allegedly hindered the investigation before the suspects were arrested. Following the interrogation, she was released under restrictive conditions including three days of house arrest, an eight-day restraining order, and a ban on contacting those involved in the case.

Benyahu Razi was fatally stabbed last Saturday, and seven suspects, including teenagers and the mother of one, were detained in connection with the murder. Authorities allege the mother acted as a mediator between the suspects and helped some evade capture after the crime. The murder was reportedly broadcast live to two young women whose detention was extended until Thursday. Among the suspects are 19-year-old Shilat Huta and 50-year-old Linor Sasson, the latter previously convicted in 2024 for running a high-interest loan racket with her son targeting vulnerable individuals.

Razi's mother, Dikla Razi, criticized the police in a Ynet interview, calling her son's murder a failure of law enforcement. She stated that warnings were given as early as August 25, when she submitted evidence to the police, but no effective action was taken. She suggested that timely intervention and proper punishment might have prevented the brutal killing.