Five Palestinians arrested for breaking into judge's home
House of Jerusalem judge who convicted underworld kingpin Assi Abutbul burgled. Palestinians arrested for break-in deny involvement but police say they found items taken during burglary at suspects' home
The men denied any involvement in the burglaries, but police investigators say they found items belonging to the judge in their possession, irrevocably tying them to the crime.
Judge Ben-Ami's house in Jerusalem was burglarized two days after she convicted notorious mafia boss Assi Abutbul as well as other delinquents for crimes related to arms dealing.
During the proceedings, Abutbul told journalists that Ben-Ami would "pay the price" for having convicted him. Police are currently investigating a possible link between Abutbul and the Palestinian break-in.
Jerusalem police arrested five Palestinians aged 25-40 from the village of Beit Liqia, located near Ramallah, in a joint operation with their counterparts in the Judea and Samaria police department and the IDF.
Police conducted a search of the premises after arresting the men and found electric appliances and personal belongings that they claim implicate the men in the two break-ins as well as in other burglaries in the Jerusalem area. Some of the stolen property was returned to its owners.
Judge drives robbers off
The burglaries took place at the beginning of December. Ben-Ami and her husband managed to drive away the burglars after they spotted a man sitting in their car and attempting to hotwire it. They yelled at him and in response he and his partners in crime fled the scene - but not before they grabbed a few of Ben-Ami's possessions.
Later that same evening, the home of Ben-Ami's relatives was also broken into and several electronic devices were stolen.
After the break-in, police decided to place security guards around the house. The judeg's residence will remain under surveillance despite the Beit Liqia arrests.
