Police chief: Officers very professional in Bnei Ayish murder probe
Amid reports that police failed to act on past complaints against twin brothers who allegedly murdered seven-year-old Leon Kalantarov, police chief says, 'Preemptive enforcement is impossible'
"The police officers did very professional work in this tragic incident," Police Chief Dudi Cohen said Monday regarding the murder of seven-year-old Leon Kalantarov in Bnei Ayish over the weekend.
Cohen was referring to criticism directed at the police department regarding its handling of past complaints against the main suspects in the boy's murder, twin brothers Adir and Naor Sudmi.
Speaking at an Israel Democracy Institute conference, the police chief said, "Preemptive enforcement is impossible. Investigators at the Kiryat Malachi station handled a complaint filed (against the brothers) last month with the utmost professionalism."
However, the commissioner admitted that cooperation between Israel Police and the government offices was lacking, adding that this issue must be addresses over time in order to "prevent such difficult incidents in the future."
Cohen's comments came amid reports that police had received complaints against the Sudmi twins over alleged acts of pedophilia.
A senior social services official who is familiar with the affair told Ynet that a female municipal social worker had filed a complaint against the brothers a year ago. The complaint was based on a female soldier's testimony, according to which she had witnessed the brothers taking children to their house to watch pornographic films. A similar complaint was filed by the Israel Association for Child Protection.
On Friday Ynet reported that child harassment complaints against the brothers had been filed as early as 2003. Following the murder of Leon Kalantarov, police said the brothers were not arrested due to lack of sufficient evidence.
