Prosecutors seek to extend house arrest of suspects in Sde Teiman abuse case, ahead of indictments

Military prosecutors are requesting a two-week extension on the house arrest of five reservist soldiers who are suspected of abusing a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility.

The IDF says that a Military Police investigation into the high-profile abuse case is due to be finished in the coming days, and at the start of next week, all the investigation materials will be handed over to the defense.

In the coming two weeks, the defense may request to hold a hearing on the investigation, before the prosecution files an indictment against the suspects, according to the military.

In all, 10 soldiers at the Sde Teiman detention facility were detained over the suspected sexual abuse of a Hamas police officer who had been arrested in the Gaza Strip. Prosecutors did not seek to hold five of them in custody, following new evidence in the case.

Prosecutors are now asking to keep the five remaining suspects under house arrest until September 5.

According to the IDF, the soldiers are suspected of aggravated sodomy (a charge equivalent to rape), causing bodily harm under aggravated circumstances, abuse under aggravated circumstances and conduct unbecoming of a soldier.