Attorney general closes case against cops in car chase death of settler teen

Authorities have decided to close an investigation into police conduct during a car chase that led to the death of a teen fleeing cops in the West Bank.

Ahuvia Sandak, 16, was killed in crash when his car collided with a cruiser while fleeing from police in December 2020, allegedly after throwing rocks at Palestinians. Repeated protests over Sandak’s death escalated into violence and arrests.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit says in a statement that he is closing the investigation due to a lack of evidence that police were attempting to intentionally hit Sandak’s car.

“It’s impossible to say which of the cars swerved and caused the crash while trying to go around,” he says.

A lawyer for a senior police official says Sandak’s death was a tragedy but the case being closed is proof that criminal actions were not part of it.

However, some on the right, who have pushed for police to be prosecuted over Sandak’s death, protest the decision. Shas MK Moshe Arbel claims the case was closed because cops obstructed justice.

“The closing of the case is an admission of the weakness of the police internal investigations division and its head. Obstruction of justice occurred,” he charges.

In January 2021, an officer was arrested on suspicion of giving an anonymous interview to the Maariv newspaper, giving the police side of events. The officer denied the accusation, according to Haaretz.

According to Haaretz, a second officer was also questioned at the time on suspicion of coordinating with fellow officers their version of the events that led to Sandak’s death.