Ex-IDF legal chief, former military prosecutor appear in court over detainee abuse video leak

Former military advocate general Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi and former IDF chief prosecutor Col. Matan Solomosh appear in the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court for a hearing on their detention after they were arrested last night.

Police are seeking to extend their detention for five days, saying there is reason to believe they will attempt to obstruct an ongoing investigation into the leak of footage last year that purportedly showed soldiers severely abusing a Palestinian security detainee at the Sde Teiman military detention facility.

The two enter the courtroom in civilian clothing rather than uniform. Tomer-Yerushalmi is accompanied by her husband and daughter.

A police representative says law enforcement is investigating five suspects so far in the investigation, and has taken testimony from two others allegedly involved in the affair.

The investigation began last Sunday, the police representative tells the courtroom.

Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned from her post on Friday and admitted that she leaked the video.

Media reports said Tomer-Yerushalmi and Solomosh were suspected of obstruction of justice over the leak of the video and an alleged subsequent cover-up, with false reports given to officials regarding an internal investigation into the leak.