MK Basel Ghattas has been freed from house arrest by a Rehovot Magistrate’s Court, ahead of an expected indictment to be served against him for allegedly smuggling phones and intelligence to Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons.
After police request a 30-day extension of the MK’s house arrest, a judge says he sees no reason to continue to hold him and disturb his ability to serve in parliament, considering that he is banned from leaving the country and did not break his house arrest until now.
Police argued that he is dangerous given the severity of the crimes he is suspected of.
Joint List MK Basel Ghattas arrives for a court hearing at the Rehovot Magistrate’s Court, January 5, 2017. (Avi Dishi/Flash90)
Ghattas is expected to be indicted shortly after a hearing with state prosecutors, a spokesperson fro the attorney general told the Times of Israel, though the Knesset member says he has not been given the opportunity to present his side.
Entering the courthouse, he says the charges against him were expected and unfair.
“They are prosecuting me without any fairness or proportionality. They didn’t allow me to have a hearing, as allowed under law. That means an Arab MK doesn’t get the same protections and process. I will insist I be given a hearing,” he says, according to Ynet.
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Thursday, January 5, 2017
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