Haim Pearlman
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Arrest of 'Jewish terrorist' remanded
Supreme Court says 'reasonable' to keep Haim Pearlman in custody 'in light of severe allegations'
The Supreme Court rejected Monday an appeal by "Jewish terrorist" Haim Pearlman, who is suspected of murdering four Palestinians, and decided to remand his arrest.
Justice Elyakim Rubinstein explained that the allegations against Pearlman were serious. "My impression from the materials I saw and the conversations I had with investigators is that the remand of the arrest is reasonable, considering the severity of the allegations," he said.
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Pearlman's attorney, Aharon Rosa, argued that his client had been in custody for three weeks without seeing any progress in the investigation against him.
He added that investigators were physically and emotionally violent towards his client, who must therefore be released immediately.
But State Prosecutor Joya Shapira stressed that Pearlman's silence during interrogations was "not making this complicated investigation any shorter". She added that the incessant filing of appeals by the defendant bordered on disruption of court proceedings.
The prosecutor said Pearlman had never filed any official complaints on unlawful means used against him during questioning. However, the Shin Bet has admitted that the suspect remained cuffed while being interrogated.
Judge Rubinstein decided that the allegations against Pearlman justify the remand of his arrest, but allowed that claims of violence against him would be probed if he were to file a complaint.
The 30-year old defendant, a father of three, is suspected of committing a series of murders in Meah Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem during the '90s.
Three other men have been arrested in relation to the case, with the fourth detained, questioned, and released on Monday.
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