A police detective is accused Wednesday of stealing money and jewelry from a rented apartment in Bnei Brak six months ago.

The indictment states that one of the days of last July, Detective Arthur Akibayev, 35, from Petah Tikvah, arrived with his team to the home of H., a resident of Bnei Brak, in order to search the apartment on the basis of a search warrant.

During the search, he located an envelope belonging to the complainant, which contained some NIS 7,500 in cash. The tenant was asked about the source of the money, and after the answer, the money envelope was returned to him until the end of the search.

Later on, the team found a box of gold jewelry in the bedroom closet, including ten 18-carat gold bracelets, six gold rings, gold chains (some with diamonds), several gold earrings and two gold women’s watches, one of which is studded with diamonds.

The tenant was asked about the source of the jewelry collection and replied that the jewelry was inherited from his mother and sister.

At the end of the search, the tenant was detained and taken to the police station. Before leaving the apartment, he took the money envelope out of his pocket, put it on the library in the living room, locked the apartment, and handed the police detective the keys to his apartment, as he requested.

That afternoon, while the tenant was detained at the police station, the detective took a police scooter, drove to the apartment, entered it with the key, and stole the envelope and the jewelry collection.

As a result, Akibayev is accused of theft by a public servant and breaking into a residence.

The defendant has been charged with unlawful entry with intent to commit robbery and stealing property that came into his possession during his work as a public servant.

A Police spokesperson said: “After receiving the evidence in the case against the detective, he has been forced to take a mandatory leave of absence of undetermined length. Likewise, he has been invited for a hearing in which he can choose to defend his continued service as a member of the force.” Should the officer not provide a successful defense during the hearing, it is most likely believed that he will be let go from the force.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)