Recently it was cleared for publication that about six years ago police officer Tzachi Ben-Or became an assassin for the Perinian crime family and killed rival crime lord Pinhas Buhbut during his hospitalization in 1999 at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
Ben-Or, who was never indicted, admitted to committing the murder and even agreed to serve as state's witness, an offer that was turned down by the prosecution.
The Southern District Police’s central unit, headed by Commander Amir Gur, was placed in charge of the investigation, as Buhbut decided to sever ties with the Perinians, who were residents of Moshav Hodaya in the south, just a few months prior to his death.
In July 2000 investigators finally got a break when Ben-Or was arrested on suspicion of breaking into two villas in Beer Sheva.
After linking Ben-Or to the Buhbut murder, Gur and his deputy decided to meet with the police officer, who warned them of ties between the Perinian family and Israel Police.
Despite grievances by the southern District Prosecutor’s Office, then-State Prosecutor Edna Arbel agreed to a deal in which Ben-Or would become a state witness and serve 7-8 years in prison; however, Gur asked that Ben-Or serve only 2-3 years for the Beer Sheva burglaries, and the deal was off.
Gur was eventually replaced by Benny Sagy, but the investigation failed to progress. In 2001 Ben-Or was released to house arrest and became involved with the Batito gang in Ashkelon, whose members asked that he help them find out whether the Perinian family was planning a hit on them. Ben-Or invited Amir Shamnian, who was linked to the Perinians, to meet with the Batito gang. Shamnian never made it out of the meeting alive, and his body was buried near the Silver Junction in the south.
The Perinians suspected that Ben-or set Shamnian up, and allegedly shot him at their Moshav Hodaya home. Ben-Or managed to escape, and his brother, Ariel, picked him up and rushed him to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
Ben-Or recuperated and was placed under house arrest. He later fled the country, only to be murdered in Mexico in 2004.
'A real test for police'
The Zeiler Commission, which is probing the police and prosecution’s alleged mishandling of the Buhbut murder case, is also examining the appointment of Yoram Levy as head of the Southern District's central unit; Levy was suspected of ties to the Perinian family. Then-Southern District Commander Moshe Karadi, now chief of police, was responsible for Levy's appointment. Despite the fact that Levy was never linked directly to the crime family, the committee heard from a number of people that Levy was never thoroughly investigated on the matter.
On Tuesday the Zeiler Commission sent out warning letters to 13 top officials, including Police Chief Karadi, saying they have until June 6 to present additional material in their defense before the commission publishes its findings.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and State Prosecutor Eran Shendar determined that no administrative measures should be taken against the police officers involved in the case.
MK Ami Ayalon said in response to the issuing of the warning letters, “Karadi must set an example and suspend himself immediately.”
MKs Arieh Eldad and Yitzhak Levy also called for Karadi’s suspension until the conclusion of the Zeiler Commission probe.
During a meeting with Karadi and other top police officials in his Jerusalem office, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said, “This is a real test for all those sitting here. I expect the organization to reach its conclusions.
“If an officer who was warned (by the Zeiler Commission) feels that he cannot continue to perform his duties and at the same time prepare for the commission, then he should speak up and we will dismiss him,” he said to the officers, who remained silent.