Prison break panel says it won’t investigate ‘pimping’ claims

A commission of inquiry looking into the escape of six terror convicts from Gilboa prison says it will not investigate claims that female soldiers guarding the prison were “pimped out” to be used as sexual bargaining chips with prisoners.

The allegations, which had been raised in the past but dismissed, were brought up Wednesday during testimony by prison commander Freddy Ben Shitrit, though he was not at the prison in 2018 when the incidents allegedly took place.

“The panel of inquiry wishes to clarify that this subject… is not open for it to probe,” the head of the panel says in a statement, according to Walla news. “We are relying on the relevant authorities to give their opinion on the matter.”

According to the news site, officials from the Public Security Ministry had earlier said that the matter was within the commission’s purview.

Female soldiers alleged in 2018 that they were placed in close contact with certain influential inmates in order to keep them happy, leading to the women being sexually harassed and abused. An initial investigation was closed due to a lack of evidence, Hebrew media reported Wednesday evening.

Ben Shitrit’s allegations drew wide media coverage on Wednesday and sparked calls for the investigation to be reopened.