The Jerusalem Magistrate Court on Sunday afternoon 2 Adar I 5774 decided the Gilo gas technician should be distanced from work for an additional three days. He will then be permitted to return to a clerical position in the company, banned from working as a field technician until the beginning of April 2014. Police fear his return to regular activities will permit him to interfere with the ongoing investigation.
The court’s decision was based on evidence gathered by police investigators connecting the technician to the fatal blast. Police maintain the evidence shows the technician did not do everything he could have and should have done to prevent the blast. Investigators’ reports presented to the court state the technician failed to comply with company protocol in this case and his negligence played a role in causing the blast. The prosecutor explained that for as long as the technician was unable to find the cause of the strong gas smell he should not have left the area as he did.
Defense attorney Yehuda Shoshan emphasizes the fatal explosion did not occur in the apartment serviced by the technician, stating he is working in the field for over 30 years and has a clean professional record.
This refers to the Supergas Company technician involved in the homes in which the fatal explosion occurred on Shabtai Hanegbi Street last month, claiming four lives.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
One Response
It is obvious that the concept of due process of law does not exist in Israel. By what standard of objective justice can a court arbitrarily deny a persons liberty and right to work? Nor only has there been nothing proven against this person but he has not even been charged with anything. Furthermore, the police initially cleared him of any wrong doing until some external party decided to make him the scape goat in this tragedy. It is not without reason that 70% of the public has no confidence in Israel’s judicial system.