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Police. Saved the day
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Police pool funds to bail out elderly man in debt

Short on $60 needed to keep him out of jail cell, lonely elderly man entangled in debt receives help from local policemen who saved the day by paying debt creditors

For the policemen of Nazerath Illit it may have been a small donation of a few shekels, but it also meant sparing an innocent 75-year-old man from being thrown in a prison cell with drug addicts and sex offenders.

 

Several days ago the Nazerath Ilit police station received an arrest warrant against a 75-year-old elderly resident with no relatives to speak of. “He survives on a mere NIS 800 ($ 244) a month,” said Nazerath Illit police chief, Superintendent Lutfi Falah. “It turned out that he was NIS 4,200 ($1285) in debt to various parties, and a warrant was issued by the court's debt collection department."

 

After informing the man of the warrant for his detainment, police took him into custody and escorted him to the Nazareth District Court where his case was reviewed by the court registrar.

 

“The registrar sympathized with the man’s difficult financial situation and set his bail at NIS 200 ($61),” said Superintendent Falah, “but he only had NIS 15 ($4.5) on him. It was clear he would have to remain in custody just because he was unable to make bail.”

 

The man was taken back to the police station, where word of his plight quickly spread throughout the department and it was promptly decided to open a collection towards his release. Opening their hearts, and pockets, the policemen soon raised the necessary sum and paid the court voucher, sending the elderly detainee back home.

 

“Police officers have hearts too,” said Superintendent Falah, “we just couldn't keep that man under our custody given his circumstance.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.04.08, 11:51
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