Judge in Aisha Rabi murder case asks for probe into teen suspect’s torture complaint

A Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court judge orders police to investigate a complaint by one of the suspects in Aisha Rabi’s murder who claims he was violently interrogated by Shin Bet security agents, according to the Honenu legal aid organization which is representing the teen.

The directive was given during a Sunday ruling to extend the 16-year-old’s detention until Thursday.

For its part, the Shin Bet has stood by its conduct throughout the investigation, saying it is being overseen by the State Prosecutor’s Office and all practices are being carried out in accordance with the law.

However, the security service claimed in a statement yesterday that the suspects did not raise any complaints regarding their treatment in Israeli custody when they appeared before a judge for remand hearings.

A copy of the protocol obtained by The Times of Israel confirmed Honenu’s assertion that this was in fact not the case and that one of the suspects alerted the lawyer of what he considered to have been a series of violent interrogation tactics that he endured.

— Jacob Magid