Israel Police's Internal Affairs Division began undercover
investigation following claims that 3 border policemen systematically
attacked, robbed Palestinian laborers.By
Oz Rosenberg




May.31, 2012
7:33 PM



7 Three Israeli border policemen were arrested on Wednesday
over suspicions that they had systematically accosted Palestinian
workers in Jerusalem and stole their money.


In a court hearing discussing their remand on Thursday, representative
of Israel Police's Internal Affairs Division Shalom Amar, said that the
three suspects, Uziel Hanun, Osama al-Sahly, Reuven Dhokerker, were in
the habit of "targeting working-class people, workers suspected of
illegally entering Israel."


The policemen, after leaving their bases without permission, allegedly,
"using threats, escorted the [Palestinians] into alleys near Damascus
Gate in the Old City."

"Those who didn't have money were beaten and sent home, those who did were also beaten, and their money stolen," Amar added.


In one case, according to police representatives, a resident of the
Palestinian city of Ramallah drove to Jerusalem and from there to
Ashdod, where he earned NIS 400 in an odd job.


When he returned to Jerusalem, the suspects forced him into an alley
and took his money. After hitting him, the Border Police officers
allegedly told him: "Turn around, get out of here and don't look back."

According to Amar, the man had then to ask for money in order to return to his home in Ramallah.


Israel Police's Internal Affairs Division launched an undercover
investigation of the reported robberies following information received
by the department, managing to reach two victims and with knowledge of
four cases.

However, police officials believe the robberies were systematic, and represented a "severe affair."

All three suspects were arrested Wednesday night by the Internal Affairs Division after being caught "in the act."


The court remanded the three by four days on Thursday. In his ruling,
judge Dov Pollock said that he was conceived there was "reasonable
suspicions regarding theft, but at this point I'm not sure that in all
cases armed robbery took place.


The suspects' attorneys said that the cases in question, at most,
involved theft and not armed robbery, claiming that some of the alleged
victims said they hadn't noticed any money was missing until they were
later searched by police.


An attorney representing one of the suspects said the court "determined
that at least in one case it was not armed robbery. Any claim that
links them with armed robbery is not a result of the body of evidence."
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-policemen-suspected-of-robbing-palestinian-workers-in-jerusalem-1.433692