Prison staff to be fired after probe finds systematic preferential treatment given to crime boss

The Israel Prison Service says it will fire a series of employees and implement drastic changes after concluding that staff systematically and continuously granted a prisoner preferential treatment, handing him excessive privileges that allowed him to run operations for his crime organization while behind bars.

A committee tasked by IPS chief Kobi Yaakobi with investigation the treatment of crime boss Kuthair Odeh, who has been incarcerated for years, has found he was allowed to keep many banned items in his cell, including a knife, and was granted access to guards’ rooms and control of CCTV cameras, according to an IPS statement.

Odeh received extensive benefits such as better food, toiletries and fitness items, was allowed to go out to the canteen under protection, and “led a lenient and limitless life that was met with a soft and conciliatory response from the IPS, even though he would terrorize staff members who didn’t get their commanders’ backing,” the statement says.

“Due to the gravity of the findings, the commissioner has ordered immediate administrative proceedings, including firing, for a number of prison guards and officers, at all levels,” it says, adding that from now on there will be a “clear and determined policy of governance within prisons,” while punishing those who step out of line.

Yaakobi also orders staff to end the practice of negotiating with prisoners to prevent hunger strikes and riots.