In August 2016 it was reported  that an elderly wheelchair-bound woman was tied to a fence in Tel Aviv on a very hot day by her foreign caretaker. The news went viral along with the photo on social media, leading to police and prosecution involvement.

Some public officials were quick to call for a probe while Interior Minister Deri called to expel the caretaker.

The Tel Aviv Prosecutor took the case and a probe was launched. The caretaker was told she is not facing criminal charges for tying the woman to the fence near Ayalon Shopping Center in Ramat Gan. According to the Facebook post, the elderly woman was tied to the fence for at least 40 minutes. Needless to say the response on Facebook was quite an angry one, directed at the caretaker.

In the statement to the media released on Monday 23 Elul, the prosecution reports that a thorough investigation into the matter was conducted. The caretaker reported she had to enter a place that was not wheelchair accessible and therefore, the elderly woman was tied to the nearby fence, for no longer than ten minutes. The prosecution’s investigators were unable to find any evidence contradicting the statements from the caretaker. In addition, while some may find the actions of the caretaker as inappropriate or worse, the state adds the elderly woman was never in life-threatening danger as was believed initially.

Weighing the evidence, the statements, facts and evidence in the case, the decision was made to inform the caretaker that she will not face charges. The family of the woman who was in the wheelchair was also informed of the state’s decision in the case.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)