A 43-year-old chareidi man from northern Israel will be compensated NIS 1,500 after being arrested falsely and compelled to spend Shabbos in jail. The man was arrested after a number of young women in Tiveria told police that a chareidi appearing man assaulted them.

A day later, the man, who has no criminal record, was arrested by police for the assault. He was held over Shabbos, left alone and not questioned. On motzei Shabbos he was arraigned and police asked to extend his remand for an additional six days. The court ruled there was no evidence linking him to the crime, releasing him with restrictions.

The man used a public defender to sue the police for false arrest, seeking compensation for the imprisonment and humiliation. It was explained that he was arrested and left in jail without even questioning him to determine if they arrested the correct suspect. Police explained he was not just randomly arrested but believed to be the suspect. The court ordered compensation in the amount of NIS 1,500, citing after his arrest, he was left in jail and no effort was made to determine if he was indeed the man they were looking for.

The Yediot Achronot report adds a number of days after being released with restrictions, the man participated in a lineup and was not identified by the victims of the assault.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)