Suspect escorted to remand hearing (Archives)
צילום: נועם מושקוביץ
Bill: Police to apologize for wrongful arrests
Shas MK Nissim Zeev proposes police be ordered to issue letter of apology, inform of right to demand compensation in event suspect found not guilty
Wrongfully arrested? You may soon be able to receive a letter of apology from the police. According to a new bill proposal submitted on Monday, in the event that a case is closed and a suspect is found not guilty, the police will be ordered to issue a written apology.
The bill was initiated by MK Nissim Zeev (Shas). The letter of apology, he proposed, would also serve as proof that the person was wrongfully arrested and is innocent.
According to the bill, the apology letter should also note the right of the accused to demand compensation from the State.
The proposal also offers a suggestion for the format of the apology letter:
"Dear… I would like to express my regret over the pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of the questioning and detention that took place on the dates…, which was unnecessary. By law, you have the right to demand compensation. Respectfully yours."
According to the proposal: "A person who was detained or summoned for police questioning, suffers a trauma – especially when one is certain of one's innocence and must prove it, and this is the result of false complaints or cases of mistaken identity.
"Such a person undergoes much suffering, including the loss of liberty, degradation, loss of time, loss of work hours, loss of potential earnings, and trouble at work. There is certainly damage caused to one's reputations, spirit, and honor, and there are also financial implications. One's freedom is certainly violated.
"When a person is 'acquitted' or released due to 'lack of evidence', their name has already been dragged through the mud and they must change jobs or addresses."
Speaking with Ynet, MK Zeev said, "I know cases of false arrests. People sat in jails, sat through interrogations, and in the end, it turned out that the police made a mistake and they did not catch the real suspects.
"I would like it to be determined that if the police learn the arrest was wrongful, they must issue a letter of apology."
