Border Guard officer gets 3 months in jail for abusing Palestinian minor
Jerusalem District Court convicts Shani Sevilya of abuse, intimidation, after she aims gun at Palestinian detainee, squeezes trigger while saying 'death to Arabs'
The Jerusalem District Court on Thursday convicted former Border Guard officer Shani Sivilya, 22, of abusing a Palestinian minor that was detained and placed under her supervision.
Sivilya, who was let go from the Border Guard following the incident a few months ago, was sentenced to three months in prison and three months community service as part of a plea bargain in which she admitted of aiming a gun to the minor's head and squeezing the trigger, while saying "death to Arabs."
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Sivilya also admitted that her acts were motived by racism.
The court convicted Sevilia of three counts of abusing a minor, intimidation and recklessness behavior.
Sivilya's attorney Refael Farij, claimed his client is a responsible and dedicated young woman, who made a one time mistake, and asked the judge to mitigate the punishment, however his request was denied.
Acted out of racial motives. Sevilia
Justice Amnon Cohen noted in his ruling that Sivilya's acts must be looked upon gravely, as they were committed while the minor was under her supervision. "Border Guard officers fulfill a difficult task and many times are places in strenuous positions, however that does not a justify abusing their duty," he said.
"The defendant admitted of being driven by racism, which adds another element of severity to the offence. A clear message must be sent that those who abuse their power and uniform in order to humiliate and degrade those who are their subordinates will face severe punishment," he added.
Judge Cohen took under consideration the defendant's young age, but rejected the probation service's recommendation not to sentence her to a prison term.
"By her acts, the defendant harmed the image of the Border Guard who are tasked with a difficult job day in day out," the judge ruled.
"With all due respect to the District Court, we believe the judges have made a mistake by sentencing the defendant to both an active prison term and community service," Sivilya's attorney said after the sentencing.
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