Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked sent a response to MK Yoav Ben-Tzur's (Shas) proposal to the Knesset yesterday submitted under the heading State Prosecutor's Office supports continued detention of minor from Duma affair despite circumstances and despite court's comments.
In response Minister Shaked said she hopes today's court hearing will proceed compassionately towards the minor: "Prosecution informed me that on July 5, 2018 the court ordered a report to examine the possibility of releasing the minor and fitting him with an electronic tracking bracelet.
"In light of the picture revealed to the public so far, I hope his detention hearing will be conducted compassionately and the judges will allow the minor to conduct his trial outside the detention center," wrote Minister Shaked.
"As a general lesson from this unfinished affair, I suggest that all parties not rush to decide fate according to media headlines," she said.
Shaked's comments come in response to a request for a discussion in the Knesset plenum that was expected to take place last night but was shelved at MK Ben Tzur's request in light of the Minister's reply.
The explanatory notes to the petition say "the Prosecution is in a situation that doesn't allow it to withdraw from its position. There's no dispute he was interrogated with maximum severity, he's been mentally damaged, yet the State Prosecutor's Office insists on continuing his detention. Even today, the court ordered the probation service to examine his release contrary to the prosecution's position."
This morning a hearing on the request to release of the minor from detention is scheduled to take place in the Central District Court in Lod.
Attorney Adi Keidar, representing the minor, together with Attorney Tzion Amir, stated: "We're all hopeful that after a two-and-a-half year struggle in which the minor's statements were eventually disqualified, and in light of all the serious consequences caused and affected during the interrogation and detention, the court will order his release from detention as recommended by the probation service."