The defendant
Head-butting cop indicted, Arab MKs unsatisfied
Moshe Cohen, the policeman who was filmed physically assaulting a truck driver, has been indicted on charges of battery and breach of trust.
The Israel Police’s Internal Investigations Department filed an indictment in the Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court on Thursday against Moshe Cohen, the Israeli police officer who was filmed beating a truck driver in Jerusalem, on charges of battery and breach of trust.
Cohen was filmed last Thursday head-butting and kicking a truck driver in the Arab-majority Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi Joz. The video shows two men arguing, apparently over a parking spot, when out-of-the blue the officer slams his forehead into the driver’s head and kicks him several times in the stomach. The officer also appears to attack several residents who try to calm tensions by intervening on behalf of the driver.
According to the indictment, Cohen found his private car damaged after leaving the police headquarters adjacent to the neighborhood last Tuesday night. After the security center advised him to check the cameras, Cohen lifted the license plate number of Mazen Shawiqi before confronting him on last Thursday. Shawiqi contends he was aware of the cameras; therefore, he was not attempting to avoid paying for damages.
“The defendant illegally attacked the plaintiff, causing injury to another person, and committed a breach of trust by using his policeman status to access the police database outside of his purview,” reads the indictment.
Footage of the encounter
However, leaders of Israel’s Arab community said indictment was insufficient, and said the incident pointed to a deeper problem in the Israel Police.
“The problem with the Israel Police is not only one violent policeman, but rather a culture of racism and lies which have become an integral part of the system,” Leader of the Joint List, MK Ayman Odeh told TPS.
“When the minister in charge and the chief police commissioner display blatant racism against the Arab public and do not resent the lies and incitement, it is no wonder that the commanders’ spirit reaches police officers in the area who are then harshly implementing it against Arab civilians and residents.”
The police investigations department also recommended indicting another policeman who watched the incident and did nothing to prevent or stop Cohen. The two policemen seen at the end of the video will be examined by police for not reporting the incident.
